ArticleJournal of veterinary internal medicine2026
Preliminary evaluation of beta-endorphin alone and in combination with adrenocorticotropic hormone for the diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in equids.
Article in Journal of veterinary internal medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundLimited published data exist regarding the diagnostic utility of beta-endorphin (β-END) for pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), either compared with or in combination with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). HYPOTHESIS/
objectivesTo evaluate β-END as a potential diagnostic test for PPID in comparison with ACTH and to explore the diagnostic performance of combined tests. ANIMALS: Ninety-eight equids aged 19-32 years, owned by the foundation "Stiftung für das Pferd," were included.
methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2025. Haircoat abnormalities were scored as absent, mild, or pronounced, and plasma β-END and ACTH concentrations were measured. Horses were classified based on haircoat abnormalities, with pronounced haircoat abnormalities defining the PPID group (n = 39) and absence of haircoat abnormalities defining the control group (n = 59). Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed for individual and combined diagnostic tests. Previously established ACTH cut-offs were combined with study-derived maximum Youden-Index cut-offs.
resultsBeta-endorphin showed an area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of 0.88 for PPID diagnosis, with a sensitivity of 76.9% and specificity of 93.2%. Corresponding AUROCs, sensitivities, and specificities were 0.87, 71.8%, and 88.1% for ACTH measured by chemiluminescent assay (CLA), and 0.83, 79.5%, and 69.5% for ACTH measured by immunofluorescent assay (IFA). Combining β-END at 115 pg/mL with ACTH (CLA) at 24.3 pg/mL yielded 88% sensitivity and 89% specificity. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: These preliminary findings support further evaluation of β-END as an adjunct diagnostic test for PPID.
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