Demographic, morphologic, hormonal and metabolic factors associated with the rate of improvement from equine hyperinsulinaemia-associated laminitis

• Published in: BMC veterinary research 2022-01, Vol.18 (1), p.49-49, Article 49
• Main Authors: Sillence, Martin, Meier, Alexandra, de Laat, Melody, Klee, Rebecca, Reiche, Dania
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Animals; Blood glucose; Complications and side effects; Dermatitis - veterinary; Diagnosis; Diet; Endocrinopathic; Equine metabolic syndrome; Feeds; Foot Diseases - etiology; Foot Diseases - veterinary; Germany; Glucose; Hay; Health aspects; Hoof and Claw; Hormones; Horse Diseases - drug therapy; Horse Diseases - etiology; Horses; Hyperinsulinism - complications; Hyperinsulinism - veterinary; Insulin; Laminitis; Leptin; Male; Metabolic diseases; Physical Conditioning, Animal; Recovery; Risk factors
• ISSN: 1746-6148; 1746-6148
• DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03149-z

Although several studies have investigated factors associated with the onset and occurrence of hyperinsulinaemia-associated laminitis (HAL), few have examined the factors associated with the rate of improvement during recovery from an acute bout of the disease. This observational study sought to discover if a range of demographic, morphologic, hormonal and metabolic variables are associated with the improvement rate from HAL in 37 naturally-occurring cases identified by 16 clinics across Germany. Each case was evaluated for laminitis severity on the day of inclusion in the trial (d 0), then after 4, 9, 14, 25 and 42 d. The horses were managed according to best clinical practice including restricting exercise and prescribing a diet of hay-only, for a minimum of 9 d. Blood samples were also collected during each evaluation, except on d 9, and analysed for glucose, insulin, ACTH and leptin. Based on individual clinical laminitis scores plotted against time, most horses improved markedly within 2 weeks, with a 'fast group' (n = 27) having a median (interquartile range) score on a 12-point scale of 0 (0-2) by d 14. However, there was a clear disparity within the total cohort, as ~ 1 in 4 horses demonstrated much slower improvement, with a median score of 5 (4-7) by d 14, or a marked relapse thereafter ('slow group', n = 10). Horses in the slow improvement group were younger (12.5 (8.8-16.3) vs 17 (14-24) yr; P = 0.008), but were not more likely to be heavier, male, very fat, to have presented with a previous history of laminitis or elevated ACTH concentrations, or to be receiving pergolide treatment. Of the hormonal and metabolic parameters measured, glucose and insulin concentrations were within the normal range following transition to the hay-only diet, but were higher in the group that failed to improve quickly, with a small but significant difference being evident on d 4, 14 and 25 for glucose (11 to 16%; P