FC‐41 A prospective pilot study on the use of cyclosporin on feline allergic diseases

Abstract

The efficacy of cyclosporin in canine atopic dermatitis has been well documented, but reports on its use in feline allergic dermatoses are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cyclosporin in cats affected by pruritus and eosinophilic dermatoses. Ten otherwise healthy cats were selected. All cats had no response to a hypoallergenic diet trial, had not been treated with short‐acting corticosteroids or antihistamines for at least 2 weeks, had not been treated with long‐acting steroids for 2 months, and had been treated with endo‐ and ectoparasiticidal drugs with no improvement 2 weeks before entering the study. All cats were pruritic and had erythema, seven had alopecia, five had an eosinophilic plaque, three had facial pruritus, one had miliary dermatitis, and one had an eosinophilic granuloma. Cyclosporin was administered daily at the dosage of 5 mg/kg for 1 month. Owners assessed pruritus by means of a visual analogue scale, and veterinarians evaluated cutaneous lesions on days 0 and 30 by a newly developed index called Feline Eosinophilic Granuloma, Eosinophilic Plaque, Extension and Severity Index (FEGEPESI), similar to the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extension and Severity Index (CADESI). Fifty percent of the cats had a reduction of pruritus ≥ 50%, and in 50% of the animals, the lesions improved or disappeared completely. However, overall pruritus and FEGEPESI scores did not improve significantly. In conclusion, cyclosporin was helpful in symptomatically treating about half of the cases of feline pruritus and eosinophilic dermatitides. Funding: Novartis.