Clinical evaluation of the use of aglepristone, with or without cloprostenol, to treat cystic endometrial hyperplasia-pyometra complex in bitches

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of aglepristone (10 mg/kg on days 1, 2 and 8) for the treatment of metritis or pyometra in bitches ( n = 67) either alone for cases of metritis ( n = 15), or in cases of pyometra ( n = 52) with ( n = 32) or without ( n = 20) the addition of low doses (1 μg/kg) of cloprostenol for 5 days (days 3–7). Examinations performed on day 90, in addition to days 8, 14 and 28, determined that treatments had been curative in the long term in 54/67 bitches (80.6%). Bitches in whom pyometra did not resolve, were given additional aglepristone on day 14 ( n = 38) and day 28 ( n = 20). Aglepristone alone was curative in 15/15 bitches with metritis. In 17/17 bitches with closed pyometra, cervical opening occurred within 48 h of aglepristone administration. Amongst the 52 bitches with open ( n = 35) or closed ( n = 17) pyometra, the additional treatment with cloprostenol from days 3 to 7, significantly improved the overall success rate at day 90, which was 27/32 (84.4%), compared to 12/20 (60.0%) in bitches without cloprostenol ( P < 0.05). The leucocyte count and plasma progesterone concentrations significantly decreased over the course of treatment. Thirteen of 15 bitches in whom plasma progesterone concentrations were initially low (<3.18 nmol/L) were cured. The recurrence rate after 12 and 24 months was 13.0% (3/23) and 19.0% (4/21), respectively.