Dynamics of androgens in healthy and hospitalized newborn foals

Background Information on steroids derived from the adrenal glands, gonads, or fetoplacental unit is minimal in newborn foals. Objective To measure androgen concentrations in serum and determine their association with disease severity and outcome in hospitalized foals. Animals Hospitalized (n = 145) and healthy (n = 80) foals. Methods Prospective, multicenter, cross‐sectional study. Foals of ≤3 days of age from 3 hospitals and horse farms were classified as healthy and hospitalized (septic, sick nonseptic, neonatal maladjustment syndrome [NMS]) based on physical exam, medical history, and laboratory findings. Serum androgen and plasma ACTH concentrations were measured with immunoassays. Data were analyzed by nonparametric methods and univariate analysis. Results Serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentrations were higher upon admission in hospitalized foals (P