Association between hyperinsulinaemia and laminitis severity at the time of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction diagnosis

BACKGROUND: Hyperinsulinaemia is the suspected component of insulin dysregulation having the strongest association with laminitis and occurs variably in equids with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). OBJECTIVES: We hypothesised that magnitude of hyperinsulinaemia correlates with laminitis severity in PPID‐affected equids. Furthermore, we hypothesised that owners can be unaware of chronic endocrinopathic laminitis. STUDY DESIGN: Cross‐sectional study. METHODS: Serum insulin concentrations, owner‐reported laminitis history and radiographic evidence of laminitis were determined in 38 client‐owned horses and ponies with confirmed PPID. Laminitis severity was classified into four categories (normal [nonlaminitic], mild, moderate or severe laminitis) based on degree of distal phalangeal rotation. Animals were also categorised as normoinsulinaemic (<20 μU/ml), mildly hyperinsulinaemic (20–50 μU/ml) and severely hyperinsulinaemic (>50 μU/ml). One‐way ANOVA, t tests and Fisher's exact tests were performed. RESULTS: While owners reported laminitis in 37% of animals, 76% were laminitic based on study criteria (P = 0.01). Owners reported laminitis more frequently in hyperinsulinaemic vs. normoinsulinaemic animals; recognition increased with severity of hyperinsulinaemia (P = 0.03). Mean insulin concentrations were higher in equids with moderate to severe radiographic laminitis (geometric mean 74.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 38.4–143.1 uU/ml) vs. those classified radiographically as normal to mild (31.9, 95% CI 21.1–48.1 uU/ml P = 0.03). MAIN LIMITATIONS: Dynamic insulin testing was not performed; some normoinsulinaemic animals might have had subtle insulin dysregulation. CONCLUSIONS: Although radiographic abnormalities were present in most animals at the time of PPID diagnosis, chronic laminitis remained unrecognised by many owners. Owner awareness of laminitis increased with severity of hyperinsulinaemia and higher insulin concentrations were detected in association with more severe radiographic changes. The Summary is available in Chinese – See Supporting Information.