Preliminary evaluation of beta-endorphin alone and in combination with adrenocorticotropic hormone for the diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in equids.

Authors

Paula Billmann, Andy E Durham, Garance Christen, Vinzenz Gerber, Josef Gross, Nathalie Fouché

Published in

Journal of veterinary internal medicine. Volume 40. Issue 4. Jul 01, 2026.

Abstract

Limited 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).
To evaluate β-END as a potential diagnostic test for PPID in comparison with ACTH and to explore the diagnostic performance of combined tests.
Ninety-eight equids aged 19-32 years, owned by the foundation "Stiftung für das Pferd," were included.
A 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.
Beta-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.
These preliminary findings support further evaluation of β-END as an adjunct diagnostic test for PPID.

PMID:
42627935
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 22 Aug 2026.

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