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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.
SUBMITTER: Stewart AJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6766528 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Stewart Allison J AJ Hackett Eileen E Bertin Francois-Rene FR Towns Taylor J TJ
Journal of veterinary internal medicine 20190912 5
<h4>Background</h4>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.<h4>Hypothesis/objective</h4>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 th ...[more]