Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Immunosuppressive drugs for autoimmune skin issues in pets
By Tham, Heng L & Davis, Jennifer L·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2024·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Pharmacology of drugs used in autoimmune dermatopathies in cats and dogs: A narrative review.
Plain-English summary
This review discusses the use of immunosuppressive drugs, which help treat autoimmune skin diseases in cats and dogs. These medications can be used alone or alongside other treatments and often need to be given for a long time, which can affect your pet's overall quality of life. The paper explains how these drugs work, how they are processed in the body, their uses, and potential side effects. Some of the drugs mentioned include glucocorticoids, ciclosporin A, and azathioprine, among others. Understanding this information can help veterinarians create effective treatment plans while minimizing risks for your pet.
Abstract
Immunosuppressive drugs are the mainstay of treatment for many feline and canine autoimmune skin diseases, either as monotherapy or in combination with other drugs. Treatment with these drugs is often lifelong and may have long-term consequences on the affected animal's overall quality-of-life. Clinicians need to understand the pharmacology of immunosuppressants in planning and executing the treatment regimen for the best possible clinical outcome, as well as reducing the risk of adverse effects. This review paper will focus on the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, clinical uses and adverse effects of immunosuppressive drugs used to treat autoimmune dermatoses in cats and dogs. These include glucocorticoids, ciclosporin A, azathioprine, chlorambucil, mycophenolate mofetil, oclacitinib and Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38708551/