Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How oral and inhaled steroids affect allergy tests in asthmatic cats
By Chang, Chee-Hoon et al.·Published in Veterinary immunology and immunopathology·2011·Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The impact of oral versus inhaled glucocorticoids on allergen specific IgE testing in experimentally asthmatic cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 18 cats with asthma were tested to see how different types of glucocorticoids (steroids) affected allergy testing. The cats received either oral steroids, inhaled steroids, or a placebo for a month. The results showed that the oral steroids interfered with skin allergy tests, while the inhaled steroids did not have the same effect. However, after stopping all treatments for two weeks, the skin tests returned to normal in all cats, indicating that a short break from steroids is enough for accurate testing.
People also search for: cat asthma treatment · glucocorticoids for cats · allergy testing in cats · inhaled steroids for cat asthma
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are palliative for allergic asthma, but allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT), which relies on identification of allergens, represents a potentially curative treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine if oral or inhaled GCs would interfere with identification of sensitizing allergens. The hypothesis was that oral but not inhaled GCs would interfere with accurate allergen-specific IgE identification determined by skin and serum testing in experimentally asthmatic cats. Asthma was induced in 18 cats using Bermuda grass allergen (BGA). Cats (n=6/group) were randomized to receive oral GCs (10mg prednisolone q 24 h), inhaled GCs (600 μg budesonide q 24 h) or placebo (q 24 h PO) for one month. Intradermal skin testing (IDST) and serum BGA-specific IgE were measured prior to, during and after treatment. A paired t test was used to compare groups pre- and post-treatment (P<0.05 significant). IDST reactivity was eliminated in 4/6, 3/6, and 1/6 cats receiving oral GCs, inhaled GCs, and placebo respectively. Two weeks after stopping treatment, IDST was again positive in all cats. Serum IgE reactivity to BGA was not significantly diminished by any treatment. In conclusion, a two-week withdrawal from GCs is adequate for IDST, but may not be necessary for serum IgE testing.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21981996/