Effect of feline interferon-omega on the survival time and quality of life of cats with feline infectious peritonitis.
BACKGROUND
There is no therapy with proven efficacy to treat cats with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).


OBJECTIVE
Feline interferon-omega (FeIFN-omega) prolongs survival time and increases quality of life in cats with FIP.


METHODS
Thirty-seven privately owned cats were subjects of this study.


METHODS
The study was performed as a placebo-controlled double-blind trial. Feline infectious peritonitis was confirmed by histology or immunostaining of feline coronavirus (FCoV) antigen in effusion or tissue macrophages or both. The cats were randomly selected for treatment with either FeIFN-omega or a placebo. All cats received adjunctive treatment with glucocorticoids and antibiotics and passive immunization with Feliserin.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in the survival time of cats treated with FeIFN-omega versus placebo or in any other variable evaluated (with the exception of the lymphocyte count). The cats survived between 3 and 200 days (median, 9 days). There was only 1 long-term survivor (> 3 months), and the cat was in the FeIFN-omega group.


CONCLUSIONS
No effect of FeIFN-omega on survival time or quality of life could be demonstrated in this study.
Ritz
Susanne
S
Clinic of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Germany.
Egberink
Herman
H
Hartmann
Katrin
K
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002415:Cats; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016766:Feline Infectious Peritonitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C063743:interferon omega 1