title: Comparison of cyclosporine A with methylprednisolone for treatment of canine atopic dermatitis: a parallel, blinded, randomized controlled trial.
abstract: The objective of this multicentre, parallel, blinded, randomized controlled study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of cyclosporine (CsA group, 117 dogs) in comparison with methylprednisolone (MP group, 59 dogs) in the treatment of atopic dermatitis for 4 months. Mean induction dose of both drugs (5 mg/kg CsA, 0.75 mg/kg MP) was tapered over time according to the clinical response. At the end of the study, the mean estimated percentage reduction from baseline (confidence interval) of lesion scores was 52% (44-59) and 45% (35-56), and the reduction in pruritus score was 36% (27-43) and 33% (23-43) in dogs in the CsA and MP groups, respectively. These percentages were not significantly different between groups. A significantly better overall assessment of efficacy was obtained in the CsA-treated dogs (76 vs. 63% responses excellent or good in the CsA compared with MP group). CsA-treated dogs presented a higher frequency of gastrointestinal disorders, mainly vomiting, but MP dogs tended to be more susceptible to infections. There was no remarkable change over baseline of the haematological and biochemical parameters in the two groups.
authors.affiliation: Novartis Animal Health Inc., CH 4002, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steffan
authors.affiliation: Novartis Animal Health Inc., CH 4002, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: Novartis Animal Health Inc., CH 4002, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brovedani
authors.affiliation: Novartis Animal Health Inc., CH 4002, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Roland D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Fisch
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D008775:Methylprednisolone