PCSO-524® for Treatment of Immune-Mediated Polyarthritis in Dogs
Authors:
An 8-year old Chihuahua dog was admitted for surgical treatment of patella luxation at Small Animal Hospital of Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.
At 2 weeks prior to the hospital visit, the dog showed signs of fever, anorexia, lethargy, and lameness of the left leg. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) was prescribed at that time but the dog had no response to the treatment.
Physical examination found that the dog could bear body weight on 4 legs, but with walking lameness.
Both of the hind limbs showed plantigrade stance and joint effusion was found at carpal, tarsal and stifle joint of both sides. Cervical and lumbar stiff was present without signs of neurological disorders or injury of cervical and thoracic vertebrae.
Medial patella luxation was found on both sides from radiographic examination.
Primary non-erosive immune mediated polyarthritis was diagnosed based on physical and radiographic examination, blood test and negative bacterial growth from synovial fluid culture.
The dog received prednisolone 0.6 mg/kg bid, gabapentin 10 mg/kg sid, samylin® liver supplement 1 tablet sid, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 20 mg/kg sid in the first week of the treatment. Then prednisolone was stopped due to elevation of liver enzymes; AST, ALT, and ALK.
The following 1-month treatment course included cyclosporine 6 mg/kg bid, gabapentin 10 mg/kg bid, samylin® 1 tablet sid, and PCSO-524® 1 capsule bid.
Since the second week in this treatment course, the dog gradually showed improvement of lameness and pain score, however, tarsal, carpal and stifle joint effusion was still present.
The following treatment included gabapentin 10 mg/kg bid, cyclosporine that was reduced by 25-50% every 2-4 weeks and PCSO-524® 1 capsule per day. Cyclosporin and gabapentin was then discontinued in the third and fourth month of the treatment, respectively.
Reduced joint effusion was observed in the second month of the treatment and completely disappeared in the fourth month.
Only PCSO-524® was continued for another 4 months without recurrence of lameness or joint effusion. No adverse effects of long-term use of PCSO-524® were detected.
*** This article was summarized from the original article published in The Journal of Thai Veterinary Practitioners by the permission of Veterinary Practitioner Association of Thailand (VPAT)