title: Efficacy of proactive long-term maintenance therapy of canine atopic dermatitis with 0.0584% hydrocortisone aceponate spray: a double-blind placebo controlled pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long-term remission between flares of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) can be difficult to achieve. Therefore, additional strategic forms of treatment are needed in order to target flare prevention. The concept of proactive therapy is recommended in the European guidelines for the treatment of human atopic eczema.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of a proactive treatment regimen with a 0.0584% hydrocortisone aceponate (HCA) spray for CAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Client-owned dogs with spontaneous atopic dermatitis (AD) (n = 41).
  
  
  METHODS
  This pilot study was conducted as a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial with an end-point of treatment failure. Dogs were treated once daily to remission, then randomly assigned to receive either the HCA spray (n = 21) or a placebo (n = 20) spray on two consecutive days each week. All dogs were on appropriate flea control. No topical or systemic anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial agents were permitted. Intention-to-treat analysis was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At Day 0, all the dogs were in remission or had mild AD based on their Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index, version 3 (CADESI-03) scores. The time to relapse was significantly higher in the HCA group (median 115 d; range 31-260 d) compared to the placebo group (median 33 d; range 15-61 d) (P < 0.0001). No adverse events were attributable to the HCA spray. Four dogs were lost to follow-up and four were withdrawn after receiving prohibited medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that proactive long-term therapy of CAD with an HCA spray administered on two consecutive days each week is effective and well-tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, 1300-477, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science, The University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, 1300-477, Portugal.
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: São Braz
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, 1300-477, Portugal.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nóbrega
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, 1300-477, Portugal.
authors.forename: Telmo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, 1300-477, Portugal.
authors.forename: José H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Duarte-Correia
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, 1300-477, Portugal.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Matias
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, 1300-477, Portugal.
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maruhashi
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Division, Virbac Corporation, 3200 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76137-4611, USA.
authors.forename: Christophe A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rème
authors.affiliation: The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, EH25 9RG, UK.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nuttall
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; C063919:hydrocortisone aceponate; D006854:Hydrocortisone