Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction - major clinical complication

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I am having a little bit of trouble with this question I found on zuku (at least with answer zuku provided):
Which one of the following choices is a major clinical complication of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction?
A - Colic
B - Circling, Head-pressing
C - Dyshormonogenetic goiter
D - Laminitis
E - Diabetes insipidus

I went with E. Usually neurogenic DI is associated with compression of hypothalmus due to large adenomas pars intermedia in horses, preventing release of ADH. However, on zuku said correct answer was laminitis. I can see laminitis might be associated with high GCs but wouldn't be my first choice. Let me know what you guys think and why.

I assume you're a fourth year student? Sorry but....damn. Equine PPID is a staple. You need to know this forwards and backwards.

Think about the answers one by one.

By what mechanism could PPID cause these conditions? Do any have other causes much more likely? What effect does PPID have on other organs? Think about organs systems and how they are interrelated.

What causes colic?
What causes laminitis?
What causes diabetes insipidus?
What causes goiter?

Etc. Try thinking about the question "backwards" by looking at causes for the choices.

No, I'm starting 2nd year in fall, but thanks anyway

My suggestion is to look in the index of any equine medicine book, find PPID, and read about it.

Not everyone has access to the kind of textbooks a veterinarian has accumulated. I think if she had information at her disposal, she wouldn't be on a forum.
"Airrick16" I think you're making the false assumption that dysfunction refers to a decrease in hormone production. Equine Cushing's (or increase ACTH) generally a tumor of the pituitary gland in the pars intermedia region. The hypersecretion is insensitive to glucocorticoid negative feedback, which results in adrenal hyperplasia and increased cortisol levels. Infections, laminitis, and poor wound healing result from elevated cortisol levels.

Originally Posted by k9vet2010

Not everyone has access to the kind of textbooks a veterinarian has accumulated. I think if she had information at her disposal, she wouldn't be on a forum.
"Airrick16" I think you're making the false assumption that dysfunction refers to a decrease in hormone production. Equine Cushing's (or increase ACTH) generally a tumor of the pituitary gland in the pars intermedia region. The hypersecretion is insensitive to glucocorticoid negative feedback, which results in adrenal hyperplasia and increased cortisol levels. Infections, laminitis, and poor wound healing result from elevated cortisol levels.

If she is a second year vet student, she would have access to a veterinary library with more than suffiecient resources to find the answer to this question.

Edit: The original poster has also edited her post. It was originally literally "what's the answer". So WTF redirecting her to more appropriate resources is appropriate - also, homework help is against the SDN ToS, I believe.

You're right. I'm getting on a plane tomorrow and flying to my vet school so I can use library over summer.

Originally Posted by sunshinevet

If she is a second year vet student, she would have access to a veterinary library with more than suffiecient resources to find the answer to this question.

Edit: The original poster has also edited her post. It was originally literally "what's the answer". So WTF redirecting her to more appropriate resources is appropriate - also, homework help is against the SDN ToS, I believe.

Originally Posted by k9vet2010;12647399[B

Not everyone has access to the kind of textbooks a veterinarian has accumulated. I think if she had information at her disposal, she wouldn't be on a forum.[/B]
"Airrick16" I think you're making the false assumption that dysfunction refers to a decrease in hormone production. Equine Cushing's (or increase ACTH) generally a tumor of the pituitary gland in the pars intermedia region. The hypersecretion is insensitive to glucocorticoid negative feedback, which results in adrenal hyperplasia and increased cortisol levels. Infections, laminitis, and poor wound healing result from elevated cortisol levels.

So a second year student has no medical textbooks, even BASIC equine med, or the internet on which to research articles? Funny, she seems to have enough internet to post here. Google equine PPID. There is tons of information.

You also fail to mention that with compression of the pars nervosa + hypothalamus due to the pars intermedia adenoma, diabetes insipidus is not uncommon *at all* either, as the OP initially said. Yes, laminitis is a complication, but I would say the DI is more common simply based on what I have seen.

In addition, the OP edited the question. At first, it was a purely "answer my homework" thing . I was (slightly) relieved when there was an edited opinion put forward.

Do you have a vetlearn account? It's free, and it takes 20 seconds to do a compendium search that will provide you with a really detailed explanation for your question.

Please remember that SDN is not intended to be for homework help. While we don't generally have a problem with people asking about general concepts or clarification on certain ideas and fostering discussion, posting questions directly from Zuku will not be allowed.

Please also remember that this is a community intended for your peers. Be civil and courteous to each other.

Originally Posted by WhtsThFrequency

So a second year student has no medical textbooks, even BASIC equine med, or the internet on which to research articles? Funny, she seems to have enough internet to post here. Google equine PPID. There is tons of information.

You also fail to mention that with compression of the pars nervosa + hypothalamus due to the pars intermedia adenoma, diabetes insipidus is not uncommon *at all* either, as the OP initially said. Yes, laminitis is a complication, but I would say the DI is more common simply based on what I have seen.

Exactly. I have the electronic version of "Pathological Basis of Veterinary Disease 4th edition". It doesn't use the name PPID; only Cushings/Hirsutism, so I didn't know they were the same thing. I assumed PPID referred to space occupying adenoma, hence the Diabetes Insipidus. I would have been better off using Google.
I'm studying questions for fun and to get ahead in pathology which I am taking next semester. It's one of hardest classes.
I haven't been on this forum since 2010 when I was in undergrad. But I won;t ask anymore basic vet questions or crosspost.. I apologize.

@ TrocarKarin I noticed on the vetlearn site they ask for a personal address. Do they bombard you with a lot of junkmail?

Originally Posted by airrick16

@ TrocarKarin I noticed on the vetlearn site they ask for a personal address. Do they bombard you with a lot of junkmail?

No junk mail. Only the occasional email.

There is also VIN...