Increased adrenocortical response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in sport horses with equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD).
Authors: Scheidegger M D, Gerber V, Bruckmaier R M, van der Kolk J H, Burger D, Ramseyer A
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
# Editorial Summary Equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) appears to involve altered stress hormone regulation, with horses affected by moderate EGGD demonstrating significantly heightened adrenocortical responses to ACTH stimulation compared to those with mild disease. Twenty-six sport horses (15 eventers, 11 endurance competitors) underwent gastroscopy and ACTH challenge testing with salivary cortisol sampling over 150 minutes; notably, EGGD was highly prevalent across both disciplines (60% of eventers, 82% of endurance horses), whilst the distinct squamous and glandular forms of gastric ulceration appeared independently rather than as sequential stages of disease. Horses with moderate EGGD exhibited substantially elevated cortisol responses—approximately 31% greater area-under-curve measurements and 10% higher peak concentrations—suggesting enhanced adrenocortical sensitivity rather than systemic stress alone. This finding carries important implications for management, as it hints that EGGD may involve intrinsic alterations to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis rather than representing a simple consequence of gastric inflammation; practitioners should consider whether stress-modulation strategies might influence disease severity or progression. Whilst further investigation is needed to establish causation and underlying mechanisms, these results warrant attention to adrenal function in horses presenting with glandular gastric pathology, particularly in high-demand sport horses where stress and performance pressures are already substantial.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Horses with glandular gastric ulcers show altered stress hormone responses; this may contribute to disease pathogenesis and should be considered in management strategies
- •Endurance horses have higher prevalence of both EGGD and ESGD than eventing horses, suggesting discipline-specific risk factors warrant investigation
- •The independence of glandular and squamous gastric disease suggests they require different diagnostic and therapeutic approaches
Key Findings
- •EGGD was diagnosed in 82% of endurance horses and 60% of eventing horses; ESGD was diagnosed in 73% of endurance horses and 33% of eventing horses
- •Horses with moderate EGGD showed significantly larger cortisol increases following ACTH stimulation compared to horses with mild EGGD (dAUC: 31.1±6.4 ng/mL, P=0.005; dMAX: 10.3±2.3 ng/mL, P=0.038)
- •EGGD presence and severity were independent of ESGD presence and severity, suggesting two distinct pathological entities
- •Enhanced adrenocortical sensitivity to ACTH stimulation may be associated with EGGD pathophysiology