Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leflunomide helps treat stubborn colorectal polyps in Miniature
By Fukushima, Kenjiro et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2016·Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Efficacy of leflunomide for treatment of refractory inflammatory colorectal polyps in 15 Miniature Dachshunds.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 15 Miniature Dachshunds with inflammatory colorectal polyps (ICRP) that didn't respond to common treatments like prednisolone and cyclosporine were given a medication called leflunomide. This treatment worked well, with about 93% of the dogs showing improvement in their symptoms, which included bloody stools and straining to defecate. While some dogs experienced side effects like lethargy and changes in blood counts, most of these issues improved with proper care. Overall, leflunomide proved to be an effective option for these dogs, but regular check-ups are important to monitor for any adverse effects.
People also search for: Miniature Dachshund bloody stools treatment · leflunomide for dogs · inflammatory bowel disease in dogs · dog straining to poop remedy
Abstract
Inflammatory colorectal polyp (ICRP), common in miniature dachshunds, presents with hematochezia, tenesmus and mucoid feces. Although an 80% response rate has been reported when treated with prednisolone and cyclosporine, effective treatment is needed for the remaining 20% of ICRP dogs. Leflunomide is an immunosuppressive drug reported as effective in several immune-mediated diseases. In the present study, we retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and adverse effects of leflunomide in 15 ICRP dogs that were refractory to treatment with prednisolone and cyclosporine. Treatment efficacy was assessed by endoscopy, clinical symptoms and rectal palpation. Adverse effects were determined by clinical symptoms and blood testing during follow-up. The leflunomide treatment response rate was 93.3%. The median dosage of leflunomide and the median response time were 3 mg/kg (range: 1.7-4.0 mg/kg) and 35 days (range: 20-119 days), respectively. Adverse effects observed included lethargy (3 dogs), anorexia (1 dog), respiratory symptoms (1 dog), leukocytopenia (2 dogs), thrombocytopenia (1 dog), anemia (1 dog) and liver enzyme elevation (8 dogs). Most of the adverse effects improved with symptomatic treatment and leflunomide discontinuation or dosage reduction. In conclusion, leflunomide treatment is effective in ICRP dogs refractory to treatment with prednisolone and cyclosporine. Because several adverse effects were observed, close monitoring is needed during leflunomide treatment follow-up.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26460312/