1. Cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations in horses with systemic inflammatory response syndrome.
- Author
-
Stewart, Allison J., Hackett, Eileen, Bertin, Francois‐Rene, and Towns, Taylor J.
- Subjects
- *
SYSTEMIC inflammatory response syndrome , *HYDROCORTISONE , *ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC hormone , *HORSES , *COPEPTINS - Abstract
Background: Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and serum cortisol concentrations increase with illness‐associated stress. Dynamics of plasma ACTH and serum cortisol concentrations in adult horses with systemic illness are undocumented. Hypothesis/Objective: To determine whether ACTH and cortisol concentrations and the ACTH/cortisol ratio vary with survival, the presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), or ischemic gastrointestinal lesions at admission, or throughout hospitalization. Animals: One hundred fifty‐one adult horses. Methods: Prospective study measuring serum cortisol and plasma ACTH at admission and on days 2, 4, and 6 of hospitalization. Horses were grouped by outcome (survival, SIRS status, number of SIRS criteria [SIRS score], SIRS severity group, and the presence of an ischemic lesion). Differences between groups and over time for ACTH, cortisol, and ACTH/cortisol ratio were investigated with a mixed effect model. Receiving operator characteristic curves and odds ratios were calculated for survival and ischemia. Results: In all groups, ACTH, cortisol, and ACTH/cortisol ratio significantly decreased over time (P < .0001). ACTH, cortisol, and ACTH/cortisol ratio were higher at admission in nonsurvivors, and ACTH and cortisol were higher in horses with ischemic lesions (P < .01). Horses with ACTH above reference interval at admission were 6.10 (2.73‐13.68 [95% confidence interval]) times less likely to survive (P < .0001). No significant difference in ACTH, cortisol, and ACTH/cortisol ratio between horses with different SIRS status, scores, or groups were detected, although nonsurvivors had a higher SIRS score (P < .0001). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Pituitary and adrenal responses are altered in nonsurviving horses and those with an ischemic gastrointestinal lesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF