Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Posaconazole treatment for dogs with hard-to-treat coccidioidomycosis
By Shubitz, Lisa F et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2021·The University of Arizona, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Posaconazole treatment of refractory coccidioidomycosis in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Eight dogs suffering from a persistent fungal infection called coccidioidomycosis were treated with a medication called posaconazole after other treatments failed. Most of the dogs showed improvement, with six out of eight either recovering or reaching a point of clinical remission while on posaconazole. The medication was generally well-tolerated, although one dog had to stop treatment due to liver issues. This suggests that posaconazole can be an effective option for dogs that don't respond to standard treatments, but it's important for vets to monitor liver function during treatment.
People also search for: dog coccidioidomycosis treatment · posaconazole for dogs · dog liver problems medication
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The majority of dogs with coccidioidomycosis recover with administration of fluconazole or itraconazole, although some cases are refractory or the dogs do not tolerate administration of these medications. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to describe the treatment outcomes and therapeutic monitoring of 8 dogs with refractory coccidioidomycosis treated with posaconazole. ANIMALS: Eight dogs with refractory coccidioidomycosis. METHODS: Retrospective case series. Medical records from Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson were searched to identify dogs with refractory coccidioidomycosis that were treated with posaconazole. Clinical information and the results of monitoring trough serum posaconazole concentrations were retrieved. RESULTS: Eight dogs with refractory coccidioidomycosis were treated with 2.5 to 10 mg/kg per day of posaconazole. Six of 8 dogs recovered or developed clinical remission while administered posaconazole. Thirteen serum concentrations from 8 dogs tested were >1 μg/mL (range, 1.52 to >6 μg/mL) and the drug was well-tolerated by 7 dogs. One dog required dosage reductions and treatment was ultimately discontinued because of hepatotoxicosis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Posaconazole should be considered as a treatment option for dogs with refractory coccidioidomycosis. Monitoring of indicators of liver function or injury along with therapeutic drug monitoring is recommended to tailor dosage in the event of hepatic toxicosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34658074/