title: Efficacy of AST-120 in dogs with chronic idiopathic enteropathies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic idiopathic enteropathies (CIE) in dogs are complex diseases of unknown origin. AST-120 is a spherical carbon adsorbent preparation with a high adsorption ability for low molecular substances.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of AST-120 in dogs with CIE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten client-owned dogs with mild (n = 7) to moderate (n = 3) CIE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Explorative, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded pilot study. Dogs with chronic diarrhea and no or insufficient response to an elimination diet were included. The dogs received either AST-120 (n = 5) or placebo (n = 5) for a duration of 21 days. The canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index (CIBDAI) was used to assess disease severity at baseline and clinical outcome after 3 weeks of treatment. Furthermore, changes in body weight and the parameters stool consistency and frequency were compared within and between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean CIBDAI score decreased from 5.6 (SD 1.5) to 2.0 (SD 1.2) in the AST-120 group (P = .125) and from 4.8 (SD .8) to 3.6 (SD 2.3) in the placebo group (P = .688). Compared with baseline, posttreatment CIBDAI scores decreased more than 60% in 4/5 dogs treated with AST-120 and in 1/5 dogs treated with placebo (P = .206). Changes in CIBDAI scores, body weights, stool consistency, and frequency within and between groups did not achieve statistical significance after 3 weeks of treatment. No adverse effects of AST-120 were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study investigated potential efficacy of AST-120 as an alternative therapy in dogs with mild-to-moderate CIE.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Small Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Volkmann
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Wirtherle
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Beddies
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kohn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002244:Carbon / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010087:Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D010087:Oxides; D002244:Carbon; C040896:AST 120
keywords: Carbon; Diarrhea; IBD; Therapy