J Vet Intern Med. 2026 Sep 1;40(5):aalag229. doi: 10.1093/jvimsj/aalag229.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In humans, systemic hypertension and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy are common sequelae of metabolic syndrome and pre-diabetes warranting investigation in horses with insulin dysregulation (ID).
HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To compare echocardiographic variables, non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP), and adipokines between Warmblood (WB) horses with and without ID.
ANIMALS: Nineteen client-owned WB horses, 5-15 years of age, presenting for elective procedures were included. Horses had no history of metabolic disease, ID, laminitis, renal or cardiac disease.
METHODS: Blinded cross-sectional study. Horses were divided into 2 groups ID and non-ID based on an oral sugar test (T0 insulin ≥20 μIU/mL or T60 or T90 ≥ 30 μIU/mL). Each horse underwent the following: Physical examination, body condition score, body weight, cresty neck score, and measurement of serum leptin, total, and high molecular weight adiponectin concentrations, NIBP, lateromedial radiographs, retroperitoneal fat measurement, short axis M mode echocardiographic evaluation, and 2D speckle tracking (2DST).
RESULTS: Eight horses were categorized as ID, 11 as non-ID. Evidence of LV remodeling was identified in ID horses (P < .05) with greater measurements of LV internal diameter at end diastole (ID 11.77 cm [11.2-12.3]; non-ID 11.10 [10.54-11.85]), interventricular septum at end diastole (ID 3.10 cm [2.81-3.39]; non-ID 2.46 [2.22-2.71]) and end systole (ID 5.18 cm [4.81-5.56]; non-ID 4.29 [4.06-4.51]). 2DST measures were significantly lower in the ID group (P < 0.05). Hypertension was identified in 2 horses, 1 from each group.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Horses with mild ID have evidence of LV remodeling supportive of hypertrophy. Cardiovascular changes might be included in the overarching definition of ID.
PMID:42858359 | DOI:10.1093/jvimsj/aalag229