Treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in three dogs with melphalan and prednisolone.
Three adult dogs with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) were successfully treated with melphalan and prednisolone. Based on the immunophenotypic analysis of leukaemic cells, two dogs were diagnosed with B cell CLL and one dog was tentatively diagnosed as having T cell CLL. One dog with B cell CLL had IgM monoclonal gammopathy. The clinical signs and haematological abnormalities associated with CLL in the three dogs improved with the administration of cytoreductive melphalan (3 to 5 mg/m2/day) and prednisolone (4.3 to 30 mg/m2/day) for eight to 210 days. There were no severe adverse effects except a mild increase in plasma alkaline phosphatase activity. Melphalan and prednisolone therapy may achieve remission with few side effects in dogs with CLL.
Fujino
Y
Y
Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Science, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
Sawamura
S
S
Kurakawa
N
N
Hisasue
M
M
Masuda
K
K
Ohno
K
K
Tsujimoto
H
H
D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D001792:Blood Platelets; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone; D008558:Melphalan