title: Combination chemotherapy of canine and feline cryptococcosis using subcutaneously administered amphotericin B.
abstract: Six cases (3 cats, 3 dogs) of cryptococcosis were cured using combination chemotherapy that included amphotericin B. We developed a simple, practical and inexpensive method of administering amphotericin B as a subcutaneous infusion during the treatment of these patients. For this, the calculated dose of amphotericin B (0.5 to 0.8 mg/kg) was added to 400 mL, for cats, or to 500 mL, for dogs, of 0.45% saline containing 2.5% dextrose. These amounts were given subcutaneously 2 or 3 times weekly over several months, to a total cumulative dose of 8 to 26 mg/kg body weight. Subcutaneous infusions were generally well tolerated by the animals, although concentrations of amphotericin B in excess of 20 mg/L resulted in local irritation. This protocol enabled the administration of larger, and thus more effective, quantities of amphotericin B without producing marked azotaemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Wales.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Wigney
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Love
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule / Q000662:veterinary; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005437:Flucytosine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D014230:Triazoles; D000666:Amphotericin B; D005437:Flucytosine