Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of cyclosporine in atopic dogs treatment

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory, pruritic and chronic allergic skin disease. It is recognized as the second most common allergic skin disease of dogs, after flea allergy. Pruritus is the predominant sign of canine AD, and it affects a variety of areas of the body, leading to intense suffering in both the animal and its owner. The long-term use of glucocorticoid therapy can be devastating because of its numerous side effects and secondary diseases. Cyclosporine (CsA) has been considered a good therapeutic option to treat canine AD. CsA inhibits the activation of cells that initiate the cutaneous immune response (Langerhans cells and lymphocytes) and that mediate allergic reactions (mast cells and eosinophils). It also decreases the release of histamine and other cytokines. The objective of this study was to analyze the efficacy of CsA (5 mg/kg, SID for 60 days) to reduce skin lesions and pruritus in 21 atopic dogs using CADESI-03 and two scales to quantify the levels of body itching. This immunomodulatory therapy was considered to be an effective treatment for atopic dogs because it reduced skin lesions by 70% after 60 days of therapy. During that period, there was a 52.6% reduction of body itching as assessed via a verbal numeric scale, and there was a significant reduction of body itching on a qualitative scale, as the maximal levels of pruritus (“three” and “four”) were hardly observed after immunomodulatory therapy. CsA was effective and safe in the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis.