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Subcutaneous administration of ciclosporin in 11 allergic cats – a pilot open‐label uncontrolled clinical trial
Author(s) -
Koch Sandra N.,
Torres Sheila M. F.,
Diaz Sandra,
Gilbert Sophie,
Rendahl Aaron
Publication year - 2018
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.12505
Subject(s) - cats , medicine , ciclosporin , tolerability , visual analogue scale , clinical trial , adverse effect , allergic dermatitis , dose , anesthesia , surgery , dermatology , chemotherapy
Background Oral ciclosporin has been reported to be efficacious for feline inflammatory skin diseases; however, cats are often difficult to medicate orally. Hypothesis/Objective To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of subcutaneous ciclosporin administered to cats with allergic skin disease. Animals Eleven client‐owned cats with nonseasonal clinical signs. Methods Prospective open label trial. Ciclosporin 50 mg/mL solution for injection (Sandimune®, Novartis; NJ , USA ) was administered subcutaneously for 60 days with initial doses ranging from 2.5 mg/kg once daily (one cat) to every other day (five cats) and 5 mg/kg once daily (four cats) to every other day (one cat). Dosages were adjusted monthly if needed based on clinical response. Clinical response was assessed using a modified Fe DESI (feline Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index) and PVAS (pruritus Visual Analog Scale) between days (D) 0, 30 and 60. Results Six cats completed the study and four of five cats withdrawn from the study were included in an intention‐to‐treat analysis. There was significant decrease in Fe DESI and PVAS scores between D0 and D30, D0 and D60 and D30 and D60 ( P < 0.05) in all ten cats. Conclusions and clinical importance Ciclosporin administered subcutaneously at initial doses of 2.5‐5 mg/kg, once daily to alternate days, appears to be an efficacious therapy for feline allergic dermatitis and may be an alternative therapy for cats that cannot be treated orally. Randomized and controlled long term studies which include a larger number of cats are needed to confirm these findings.