'''Hyperlipaemia''' is a severe metabolic disorder which occurs in response to a negative energy balance, the end result is multi-organ failure as lipid is deposited in the liver and kidneys. Fatty acids are mobilised from adipose tissue, some are used peripherally but most are taken up by the liver. Here they are oxidized to provide energy or re-esterified to triglycerides and phospholipids, and deposited in hepatocytes or released into the blood as very low density lipoproteins. These very low density lipoproteins are the cause of lipaemic plasma in hyperlipaemic ponies. Hypoglycaemia reduces insulin response, compounding the problem by increasing peripheral lipid mobilisation and decreasing removal of triglyercides from the circulating blood. Insulin resistance has been reported to be a factor in many cases of hyperlipaemia but affected animals may aslo have a normal insulin response. | '''Hyperlipaemia''' is a severe metabolic disorder which occurs in response to a negative energy balance, the end result is multi-organ failure as lipid is deposited in the liver and kidneys. Fatty acids are mobilised from adipose tissue, some are used peripherally but most are taken up by the liver. Here they are oxidized to provide energy or re-esterified to triglycerides and phospholipids, and deposited in hepatocytes or released into the blood as very low density lipoproteins. These very low density lipoproteins are the cause of lipaemic plasma in hyperlipaemic ponies. Hypoglycaemia reduces insulin response, compounding the problem by increasing peripheral lipid mobilisation and decreasing removal of triglyercides from the circulating blood. Insulin resistance has been reported to be a factor in many cases of hyperlipaemia but affected animals may aslo have a normal insulin response. |