Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Oclacitinib (Apoquel) reduces itching in dogs with atopic dermatitis
By Cosgrove, Sallie B et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2013·Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: A blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the efficacy and safety of the Janus kinase inhibitor oclacitinib (Apoquel®) in client-owned dogs with atopic dermatitis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 299 dogs with itchy skin due to atopic dermatitis (AD) were treated with a medication called oclacitinib (Apoquel) to see if it could help reduce their symptoms. Owners reported significant improvements in their dogs' itching within just a few days, with reductions of up to 66.7% in itchiness compared to those receiving a placebo. Veterinarians also noted a marked decrease in skin severity in the oclacitinib group. Overall, the treatment was found to be effective and safe, leading to a substantial improvement in the dogs' comfort and skin condition.
People also search for: dog itching treatment · Apoquel for dogs · atopic dermatitis in dogs · dog skin problems medication
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pruritus is the hallmark clinical sign of atopic dermatitis (AD) in dogs. Preliminary study results suggest that oclacitinib, a selective Janus kinase inhibitor, could reduce pruritus and associated inflammatory skin lesions in dogs with AD. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: The objective was to evaluate efficacy and safety of oclacitinib (Apoquel®) for the control of AD in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. ANIMALS: Clinicians at 18 specialty clinics enrolled client-owned dogs (n = 299) with a history of chronic AD. METHODS: Dogs were randomized to receive either oclacitinib (0.4-0.6 mg/kg twice daily for 14 days and then once daily for up to 112 days) or an excipient-matched placebo. Owners assessed visual analog scale (VAS) scores of pruritus on days 0, 1, 2, 7, 14, 28, 56, 84 and 112. Clinicians assessed Canine AD Extent and Severity Index (CADESI-02) scores on days 0, 14, 28, 56, 84 and 112. RESULTS: On days 1, 2, 7, 14 and 28, oclacitinib-treated dogs had a 29.5, 42.3, 61.5, 66.7 and 47.4% reduction from baseline in owner-assessed pruritus scores, respectively, compared with a 6.5, 9.1, 6.5, 3.9 and 10.4% reduction in placebo-treated dogs. On days 14 and 28, dermatologists recorded a 48.4% reduction in CADESI-02 scores in oclacitinib-treated dogs compared with a 1.7% reduction and a 3.6% increase in placebo-treated dogs. After day 28, >86% of all placebo-treated dogs had moved to an open-label study, making between-group comparisons biased. Differences were significant at all time points assessed (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Oclacitinib provided rapid, effective and safe control of AD, with substantial improvement in VAS and CADESI-02 scores.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24581322/