Steroid treatments for itching in allergic cats compared in study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Oral triamcinolone (T) and methylprednisolone (M) have been recommended at various dosages for the control of pruritus associated with feline allergic dermatitis. OBJECTIVES: The first objective was to determine effective dosages of methylprednisolone (Pfizer, New York, NY, USA) and triamcinolone (Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., St Joseph, MO, USA) required to induce remission from pruritus associated with feline allergic dermatitis. The second objective was to compare efficacy of several different alternate day maintenance dosages. The third objective was to determine whether laboratory abnormalities occurred at effective dosages. ANIMALS: Thirty-two client-owned allergic cats were randomly assigned to the M or T groups. METHODS: Owners reported weekly on pruritus score and behavioural changes. Remission was defined as a pruritus score of ≤2/10, with 0 as the least and 10 as the most pruritic. Serum chemistry, complete blood count, fructosamine and urinalysis were assessed on day 0, at the end of the 7-14 day induction phase and at study completion. RESULTS: Mean once daily doses required for induction were 1.41 mg/kg for M and 0.18 mg/kg for T. Mean alternate day maintenance doses were 0.54 mg/kg for M and 0.08 mg/kg for T. There was a statistically significant decrease in eosinophils and increase in fructosamine for both groups from baseline to study completion. Fructosamine levels did not exceed the reference range in any case. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that triamcinolone is approximately seven times as potent as methylprednisolone, and that these dosages are efficacious and well tolerated for the control of pruritus in allergic cats.