PPID Flashcards
At what age, type and breed is equine cushings prevelant in?
Prevalence: 15-30% in horses >15y.o.
Age: >7y.o. BUT avg 19-21 years of age
Typically a condition of older horses
Diagnosis in <15y.o. interpreted cautiously
Gender: no gender predilection
Breed: Ponies appear predisposed
What are the clinical signs of PPID (out in bold the most common)?
- Weight loss/Muscle wastage (up to 88%)
- PU/PD (up to 76%) not always obvious if animals pasture fed.
- Hirsutism (long, curly haircoat) (55-80%)
- Quieter demeanour/lethargy/increased docility
- Poor performance (The owner what do they mean by poor performance)
- Regional adiposity (supraorbital)
- Potbellied appearance
- Chronic laminitis
- Recurring infections (skin, respiratory, dental)
- Hyperglycaemia
- Hyperhidrosis/anhydrosis (less common)
- Neurologic: blindness/seizures/narcolepsy (if adenoma presses on parts of brain, blindness= pressing on optic nerve)
- Absent reproductive cycle/infertility
What does this image show?
PPID
- Hirsutism (picture taken in california pony still with winter coat though)
- Potbellied appearance
- Abnormal fat depots
- Muscle loss
Describe the generic appearance of a cushings horse?
Label the pituitary gland?
What is the pathogenesis of PPID?
Pituitary Gland
Pars Distalis produces normally most of ACTH in response to stress:
- Pain, illness
- Excitement, travelling, exercise
- Veterinary procedures
- etc
Pars Intermedia produces normally very small amounts of ACTH
Pars Intermedia becomes hyperplastic/neoplastic, biologically active cells
Lack of dopaminergic inhibition of pituitary PI
ACTH mediated adrenal gland stimulation pituitary hyperadrenocorticism.
Other POMC hormones synthesised:
- α-MSH
- β-endorphins
- Lipotrophins
What is the normal physiology of the Pars intermedia in the absence of PPID?
- Pars Intermedia is in a state of tonic inhibition
- Inhibited by dopamine released from dopaminergic neurons that extend down from the hypothalamus
- Dopamine interacts with D2 receptors on melanotrophs and inhibits their activity
Illustrate the pathogenesis of PPID?
- Of the 3 hypothalamic tracts involved in Dopamine production, the periventricular tract is the main one implicated the activity of the pars intermedia
- Dopamine acts on D2-receptors on melanotropes in the Pars intermedia and this results in reduction of POMC mRNA expression and POMC-derived hormone release
What are POMCs cleaved to?
Why is EMS a risk factor for PPID?
- Obesity and insulin resistance associated with low-grade inflammation and pro-oxidative state
- Increased oxidative degeneration of dopaminergic neurons
- PPID developing at an earlier age in horses with EMS
- Key point: Insulin dysregulation exacerbated by the development of PPID
What causes the weightloss that is seen in PPID?
What causes the PU/PD seen in the PPID?
- Neurogenic diabetes insipidus (decreased ADH production) is likely the result of compression of the pars nervosa by the adenomas in the pars intermedia which results in decrease production and secretion of ADH
- Glucocorticoids increase GFR
- Hyperglycaemia -> osmotic diuresis -
What causes the hirsutism seen in PPID?
What leads to the lethargy associated with PPID?
Make animal more relaxed and quiet