Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Phenylbutazone effects on insulin in horses with insulin problems
By Kemp, Kate L et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2024·School of Veterinary Science, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effect of phenylbutazone on insulin secretion in horses with insulin dysregulation.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Sixteen light breed horses, including seven with insulin dysregulation (ID), were studied to see how phenylbutazone, a common pain medication, affects insulin levels. After treatment with phenylbutazone, the horses with ID showed lower glucose and insulin levels in response to a glucose test compared to when they received a placebo. This suggests that phenylbutazone may help manage insulin levels in horses with ID, which is important for treating laminitis associated with high insulin levels. Further research is needed to explore this potential benefit.
People also search for: horse laminitis treatment · insulin dysregulation in horses · phenylbutazone effects on insulin
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Phenylbutazone is often prescribed to manage pain caused by hyperinsulinemia-associated laminitis, but in diabetic people nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increase insulin secretion and pancreatic activity. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Investigate the effect of phenylbutazone administration on insulin secretion in horses. It was hypothesized that phenylbutazone will increase insulin secretion in horses with insulin dysregulation (ID). ANIMALS: Sixteen light breed horses, including 7 with ID. METHODS: Randomized cross-over study design. Horses underwent an oral glucose test (OGT) after 9 days of treatment with phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg IV q24h) or placebo (5 mL 0.9% saline). After a 10-day washout period, horses received the alternative treatment, and a second OGT was performed. Insulin and glucose responses were compared between groups (ID or controls) and treatments using paired t test and analyses of variance with P < .05 considered significant. RESULTS: In horses with ID, phenylbutazone treatment significantly decreased glucose concentration (P = .02), glucose area under the curve (2429 ± 501.5 vs 2847 ± 486.1 mmol/L × min, P = .02), insulin concentration (P = .03) and insulin area under the curve (17 710 ± 6676 vs 22 930 ± 8788 μIU/mL × min, P = .03) in response to an OGT. No significant effect was detected in control horses. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Phenylbutazone administration in horses with ID decreases glucose and insulin concentrations in response to an OGT warranting further investigation of a therapeutic potential of phenylbutazone in the management of hyperinsulinemia-associated laminitis beyond analgesia.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38363029/