The Equine Cushing's syndrome in a female horse

The Equine Gushing's syndrome, which is frequently diagnosed in elderly hor ses, is caused by an increased level of adrenocorticotrope hormone and othe r metabolites of pro-opiolipomelanocortine due to a pituitary P-cell-adenom a of the pars intermedia. Typical symptoms are hirsutism, hyperhidrosis, la minitis, excessive amount of supraorbital fat and a "pot-bellied" appearanc e. Useful diagnostic aids are measurements of plasma-ACTH and the dexametha son-suppression-test. Management of ECS-patients consists primarily of prev entive medicine. Medical treatment is lifelong, palliative and expensive.