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Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), or equine Cushing's disease, is an endocrine disease affecting the pituitary gland of horses. It is most commonly seen in older animals, [ 1 ] and is classically associated with the formation of a long, wavy coat ( hirsutism ) and chronic laminitis .
Cushing's is an umbrella term for conditions caused by elevated cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels. Cushing's disease most commonly refers to pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism, the most common condition of Cushing's syndrome, but 'Cushing's' is used to refer to all hyperadrenocorticism conditions. [2]
Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, or Cushing's disease, is common in older horses and ponies and causes an increased predisposition to laminitis. Equine metabolic syndrome is a subject of much new research and is increasingly believed to have a major role in laminitis.
The symptoms of Cushing's disease are similar to those seen in other causes of Cushing's syndrome. [5] Patients with Cushing's disease usually present with one or more signs and symptoms secondary to the presence of excess cortisol or ACTH. [6] Although uncommon, some patients with Cushing's disease have large pituitary tumors (macroadenomas).
Hypertrichosis (often mistakenly classified as hirsutism) is a well documented condition in horses with a hormonal disorder of the hypothalamus, called Cushing's disease. It is the most common endocrine disease of the middle-aged to older horse, often resulting in fatal laminitis. It can be successfully controlled by medications if diagnosed early.
EMS shares similarities to pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (also known as equine Cushing's disease), which also causes regional adiposity, laminitis, and sometimes insulin resistance. Treatment and management differ between the conditions, making it important to distinguish between the two.
Cushing's disease is a common condition in geriatric horses, characterized by elevated levels of cortisone in the blood. Symptoms include a shaggy coat, excessive sweating, and increased urination. While there is no cure for Cushing's disease, it can be effectively managed. Another related condition, Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), can lead to ...
Equine obesity has been implicated in the increase in cases of insulin resistance, known as equine metabolic syndrome, [54] a condition that reveals close similarities with the onset of human type 2 diabetes. [55] It also favors the onset of equine Cushing's disease, usually around eleven to thirteen years of age. [56]