title: Pilot study of a myostatin antagonist in dogs with cardiac cachexia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiac cachexia, a loss of lean body mass caused by heart disease, often accompanies congestive heart failure (CHF). Blocking myostatin, which is a protein that inhibits muscle growth, appears to greatly enhance muscle size and strength in rodent models and human clinical trials. The objective of this study was to evaluate a dog-specific myostatin antagonist (CAP-031) in a pilot study to test its safety and efficacy in dogs with CHF and cardiac cachexia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs with CHF and cardiac cachexia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible dogs received four weekly subcutaneous injections of CAP-031. Endpoints were body weight, body condition score (BCS, on a 1-9 scale), muscle condition score (MCS, on a five-point scale, where 0 = no muscle loss and 4 = severe muscle loss), appetite, and a quality of life (QOL) score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven dogs with CHF and moderate-to-severe cachexia were enrolled in the study. For the six dogs that completed the study, the median age was 8.8 years (range 6.4-10.6). At baseline, the median body weight was 27.0 kg (range 17.3-62.0), the median BCS was 4 (2-5), and median MCS was 3 (3-4). There were no significant changes in body weight, BCS, appetite, or QOL score. The change in MCS (from a median of 3 at baseline to a median of 2.5 at week 4) was not statistically significant (p = 0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The myostatin antagonist appeared to be well tolerated in most dogs. Earlier identification of cachexia is important, and randomized, controlled trials of myostatin antagonists or other drugs to treat cardiac cachexia are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA. Electronic address: lisa.freeman@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Vicky K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA; Tufts Veterinary Emergency Treatment & Specialties, 525 South Street, Walpole, MA 02081, USA.
authors.forename: Barret J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Bulmer
mesh_terms: D030301:Activin Receptors, Type II / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002100:Cachexia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D055435:Myostatin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D055435:Myostatin; D030301:Activin Receptors, Type II
keywords: Cardiomyopathy; Congestive heart failure; Weight loss