title: The effects of prednisone on haemostasis in leishmaniotic dogs treated with meglumine antimoniate and allopurinol.
abstract: Thirty dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum were studied in order to determine the effects of treatment on haemostatic function. The animals were divided randomly into two treatment groups: Group 1 received meglumine antimoniate and allopurinol; Group 2 dogs were given the same treatment plus prednisone. Ten healthy animals were used as untreated controls. Clinical examination and determination of platelet aggregation, coagulation factors and biochemical parameters were undertaken before treatment and after 15, 30 and 60 days. A significant improvement in platelet aggregation was detected after 60 days in Group 1, but only after 15 days in Group 2. In both treated groups, platelet aggregation was lower than in the control group at the end of the study. The results suggest that prednisone may be a useful tool in the treatment of haemostatic disorders during canine leishmaniosis. The potential benefits and risks due to the use of corticosteroids in the treatment of leishmaniosis are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Delpino 1, 80137, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cortese
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelagalli
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piantedosi
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mastellone
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Loria
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciaramella
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Avallone
mesh_terms: D000493:Allopurinol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018314:Leishmania infantum; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D000493:Allopurinol; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D011241:Prednisone