Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Oclacitinib versus azathioprine for treating dog pemphigus foliaceus
By Hernandez-Bures, Andrea et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2023·Animal Dermatology Group Inc, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The use of oclacitinib compared to azathioprine in the management of canine pemphigus foliaceus: A retrospective analysis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with a skin condition called pemphigus foliaceus, which causes painful sores, were treated with either oclacitinib (Apoquel) or azathioprine along with steroids to see which worked better. Both treatments helped many dogs achieve remission, with 13 out of 15 dogs on azathioprine and 11 out of 15 on oclacitinib showing improvement. While both medications allowed for a reduction in steroid use, azathioprine had a slightly better overall effect. Oclacitinib is a viable option for treating this condition in dogs.
People also search for: dog pemphigus foliaceus treatment · oclacitinib for dogs skin problems · azathioprine side effects in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Oclacitinib (Apoquel; Zoetis) has been reported to be beneficial for treating immune-mediated disorders. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study evaluates in which group of dogs [oclacitinib (OC) or azathioprine (AZ)] remission of pemphigus foliaceus (PF) was more effectively achieved with matched induction dosing of glucocorticoids; it further evaluates which group had a higher glucocorticoid-sparing effect. ANIMALS: Review of 30 medical records of dogs diagnosed with PF presented to a private practice dermatological service. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of dogs diagnosed with PF and treated with OC or AZ in combination with glucocorticoids. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the ability to induce remission between AZ and OC groups. In the AZ group, 13 of 15 dogs went into some type of remission (partial or complete), compared with 11 of 15 in the OC group. There was no significant difference between the two groups for the glucocorticoid-sparing effect. The AZ group had an average reduction of 77.9% from the induction glucocorticoid dose, and OC group had an average reduction of 64.4%. One of 15 patients in the AZ group and three of 15 patients in the OC group had a 100% reduction of the glucocorticoid dose. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results indicate that OC can be considered as a treatment option for canine PF.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37700599/