Clinical use of triamcinolone acetonide in the horse (205 cases) and the incidence of glucocorticoid‐induced laminitis associated with its use

No Evidence That Therapeutic Systemic Corticosteroid Administration is Associated With Laminitis in Adult Horses Without Underlying Endocrine or Severe Systemic Disease.

“…The only observational study investigating iatrogenic laminitis following treatment with triamcinolone reported a prevalence of 0.8% (n=1/132; 95% confidence interval 0 -2.2%) (McCluskey & Kavenagh 2004). In the same study, three other cases of laminitis were reported, of which two were diagnosed with laminitis prior to triamcinolone but did not develop laminitis subsequent to its use.…”

“…Therefore, laminitis following triamcinolone administration was observed in 33% of horses with a previous history of laminitis (n=1/3). The third horse developed laminitis 18 months after triamcinolone therapy as a result of post foaling toxaemic metritis (McCluskey & Kavenagh 2004). Of 106 equine laminitis cases reported as adverse drug events over a 26 year period, 18% (n=19) were attributed to corticosteroid treatment, whereas 35% of cases (n=37) were attributed to administration of anthelmintics and 32% (n=34) were reported following treatment with antibiotics or antiprotozoals (U.S. FDA).…”

Equine Laminitis: A retrospective study of 55 cases (2000-2004)

“…No obvious predisposition of sex has been established, although in many epidemiological studies both theories are advocated. In a recent study of 205 laminitic horses (McCluskey et al, 2004) the same prevalence of geldings was noted. Still, Dorn et al (1975) claim that the disease is seen more commonly in stallions.…”

“…As far as breed predisposition is concerned, the majority of the retrospective studies (McCluskey et al 2004, Slater et al 1995, Hood 1999a claim that Thoroughbreds are most susceptible to laminitis. The increased frequency of laminitis in Thoroughbreds could be put down to the fact that most of them undergo severe athletic training.…”

Musculoskeletal Pathology

“…92 Contrary to historical and widely held beliefs, there is no strong scientific evidence that intra-articular administration of normal doses of exogenous corticosteroids increases the risk of laminitis in systemically healthy horses. [93][94][95] Supporting limb laminitis Supporting limb laminitis occurs in the contralateral limb because of a separate musculoskeletal condition that has resulted in persistent, unilateral lameness with minimal weight bearing. Loss of a normal cyclic pattern of loading, rather than merely an increase in load, is thought to cause hypoperfusion, hypoxia, and energy failure within the lamellar dermis of the weight-bearing foot.…”