title: The efficacy of cyclosporine A in cats with presumed atopic dermatitis: a double blind, randomised prednisolone-controlled study.
abstract: The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of cyclosporine A (CsA) and prednisolone in feline atopic dermatitis (AD) in a randomised, controlled double blind study. Twenty-nine cats with feline AD were randomly allocated to two groups. Eleven cats were treated orally with prednisolone (1mg/kg SID) and 18 were treated with CsA (5mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. At day 0 (D0) and D28, skin lesions were graded by means of the canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index (CADESI). Skin biopsies and intradermal allergy tests were performed at D0 and blood samples for haematology and serum biochemistry were collected at D0 and D28. During the trial the cat owners were asked to evaluate the intensity of the pruritus once weekly on a linear analog scale and to record side effects. Based on the CADESI there was no significant difference between the two groups in the amount of remission (P=0.0562) or in the number of cats that improved by >25% (P=0.0571). The effect of CsA and prednisolone on pruritus as evaluated by the owners was not significantly different (P=0.41) between the two groups. No serious side effects were observed. The conclusion was that CsA is an effective alternative to prednisolone therapy in cats with presumed atopic dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80154, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands. m.a.wisselink@uu.nl
authors.forename: Marinus A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wisselink
authors.forename: Ton
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Willemse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D011239:Prednisolone