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Dose tapering for ciclosporin in cats with nonflea‐induced hypersensitivity dermatitis
Author(s) -
Steffan Jean,
Roberts Elizabeth,
Can Andrea,
Prélaud Pascal,
Forsythe Peter,
Fontaine Jacques,
King Stephen,
Seewald Wolfgang
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
veterinary dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1365-3164
pISSN - 0959-4493
DOI - 10.1111/vde.12018
Subject(s) - medicine , cats , ciclosporin , regimen , adverse effect , placebo , vomiting , anesthesia , surgery , chemotherapy , alternative medicine , pathology
Background Little information is available on the ciclosporin dose‐tapering regimen and clinical response in the treatment of feline hypersensitivity dermatitis. Hypothesis/Objectives To test a dose‐tapering regimen and assess efficacy and clinical safety for up to 18 weeks. Animals Eighty‐eight client‐owned cats with feline hypersensitivity dermatitis. Methods Cats that received either a placebo or ciclosporin at 2.5 mg/kg or 7 mg/kg daily for 6 weeks were given 7 mg/kg ciclosporin daily for 4 weeks. Depending on the clinical response, the dose was tapered from daily to every other day over the next 4 weeks and further to twice a week for an additional 4 weeks. Results After all cats received 7 mg/kg for 4 weeks, the dose could be tapered to every other day for the next 4 weeks in 70% of cats remaining in the study. During the next 4 weeks, 57, 15 and 22% of cats remaining in the study could be treated at twice a week, every other day or daily, respectively. After the first 4 weeks, the mean lesion score and owner‐assessed pruritus improved over baseline by 69 and 61%, respectively, and remained stable during the following 8 weeks. Approximately 65% of the cats in the study were reported to have an adverse event ( AE ), very often mild and resolving spontaneously. The most frequent AE s were gastrointestinal and included primarily vomiting and diarrhoea. Eighty per cent of AE s occurred when cats were on daily treatment. Conclusions and clinical importance Results suggest that the induction dose of 7 mg/kg ciclosporin can be tapered as soon as 4 weeks without deterioration of the clinical response. Establishment of the lowest effective dosing regimen of ciclosporin reduced the frequency of AE s.