Using equine-specific insulin and C-peptide assays to improve diagnosis and monitoring of insulin dysregulation.
Project overview
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Short summary
Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a disease that is becoming increasingly common in horses. Affected horses are at an increased risk of developing laminitis, among other complications.
Background and Importance of the Project
Horses affected by Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) often have markedly elevated blood insulin concentrations, which can increase the risk of laminitis.
In the first part of this project, a new equine-specific method for analyzing biomarkers of insulin dysregulation will be evaluated and validated, including comparisons with the methods currently in use. At present, little is known about whether the elevated insulin concentrations observed in affected horses are primarily due to increased insulin production by the pancreas, reduced insulin clearance in the liver, or a combination of both mechanisms. By evaluating these new assays, we hope to determine the underlying cause in individual horses and thereby tailor treatment more effectively.
For this part of the project, we need both horses with suspected EMS and healthy horses to use as controls The horses will undergo an oral glucose tolerance test, similar to the test currently used for diagnosing EMS. More information about participation in the study can be found here: LINK.
Optimizing Treatment Strategies?
To further improve treatment strategies for horses with EMS, horses receiving treatment with so-called SGLT2 inhibitors will be monitored and evaluated using the new assays. Through this diagnostic approach, we hope to provide individualized treatment recommendations based on each horse’s specific physiological characteristics.
Improving Sample Collection and Transport
Sweden is a geographically large country with long transport distances, which can sometimes affect the quality of transported samples. This may result in repeated sampling, increased costs, and a greater environmental impact for both veterinarians and horse owners.
A Swedish company has developed a quantitative dried blood spot (qDBS) system, in which a very small volume of blood is collected and dried on a specialized sampling card. The aim is to improve sample stability and simplify blood collection. In this project, the system will be evaluated for the measurement of EMS-related biomarkers in horses.
Lipid concentrations and Prognostic Biomarkers
Horses with EMS often have elevated triglycerides in the blood. This is also common in conditions such as anorexia and can, in severe cases, have fatal consequences. Elevated blood triglycerides levels may themselves contribute to insulin resistance. We therefore aim to evaluate whether our new analytical methods can be used for prognostic purposes and help guide treatment decisions.