Corticosteroids and Immune Suppressive Therapies in Horses.
Immune suppressive therapies target exaggerated and deleterious responses of the immune system. Triggered by exogenous or endogenous factors, these improper responses can lead to immune or inflammatory manifestations, such as urticaria, equine asthma, or autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases. Glucocorticoids are the most commonly used immune suppressive drugs and the only ones supported by robust evidence of clinical efficacy in equine medicine. In some conditions, combining glucocorticoids with other pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments, such as azathioprine, antihistamine, bronchodilators, environmental management, or desensitization, can help to decrease dosages and associated side effects.
Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Quebec J2S 7C6, Canada. Electronic address: mathilde.leclere@umontreal.ca.
Mathilde
M
Leclere
D000818:Animals; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006736:Horses; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
Azathioprine; Equine asthma; Glucocorticoids; Glucocorticosteroids; Immune-mediated; Immunomodulation