Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Liver failure linked to trimethoprim sulfonamide in 4 dogs
By Twedt, D C et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·1997·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Association of hepatic necrosis with trimethoprim sulfonamide administration in 4 dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Four dogs developed severe liver damage after being treated with a combination medication called trimethoprim-sulfonamide (TMS) for various conditions. Symptoms appeared between 4 to 30 days after starting the medication, and despite receiving supportive care, all the dogs either died or were euthanized due to liver failure. This case highlights the risk of liver toxicity associated with TMS, although the exact cause remains unclear since the reaction did not seem linked to the duration or dosage of the treatment.
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Abstract
Hepatic necrosis in association with trimethoprim-sulfonamide (TMS) combination therapy was diagnosed in 4 dogs based on history, clinical presentation, and examination of histopathologic specimens collected postmortem. Duration of TMS therapy prior to onset of clinical signs ranged from 4 to 30 days. The dose of TMS ranged from 18 mg/kg to 53 mg/kg bid. Despite supportive medical therapy, all dogs died or were euthanized due to hepatic failure. This report highlights the potential for hepatotoxicity during TMS therapy. Duration of therapy, type of TMS combination, and dose did not appear related to the development of toxicity. The low number of dogs affected suggests an idiosyncratic drug reaction.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9132479/