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| ====Glucocorticoids==== | | ====Glucocorticoids==== |
− | Corticosteroids, synthesized in the adrenal cortex,
| + | Glucocorticoids are |
− | have glucocorticoid (anti-inflammatory and
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− | gluconeogenic) and mineralocorticoid (salt
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− | and water balance) activity. Glucocorticoids are
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| simultaneously the most used and abused drugs in veterinary dermatology. They are cheap, easy | | simultaneously the most used and abused drugs in veterinary dermatology. They are cheap, easy |
| to administer and highly efficacious but are | | to administer and highly efficacious but are |
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| in rapid and profound immunosuppression and | | in rapid and profound immunosuppression and |
| decreased inflammation. | | decreased inflammation. |
− | Most quoted doses are for prednisolone (Table 1);
| + | |
− | the dose for other steroids is calculated according
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− | to the relative potency. Steroids also vary in
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− | their mineralocorticoid activity and duration of
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− | activity, but that suppression of the hypothalamicpituitary-
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− | adrenal (HPA) axis may last longer
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− | than the therapeutic effect. Only prednisolone
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− | and methyl-prednisolone are suitable for long term
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− | alternate day dosing as their duration of activity
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− | should leave at least 12 hours for the HPA axis
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− | to recover. The formulation also has an impact:
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− | soluble esters (such as succinates and phosphates)
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− | have a rapid onset and shorter duration of
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− | action; acetates have a moderate onset and
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− | duration; and acetonides and dipropionates are
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− | long-acting depot preparations.
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| Glucocorticoids are highly effective in canine | | Glucocorticoids are highly effective in canine |
| AD, but must be used with care and, ideally, | | AD, but must be used with care and, ideally, |
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| treat flares of inflammation in dogs otherwise | | treat flares of inflammation in dogs otherwise |
| well controlled on other medication. | | well controlled on other medication. |
| + | |
| Topical treatment directs the steroid to affected skin | | Topical treatment directs the steroid to affected skin |
| and avoids the need for systemic therapy. Topical | | and avoids the need for systemic therapy. Topical |
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| localized to relatively hairless skin, pyotraumatic | | localized to relatively hairless skin, pyotraumatic |
| dermatitis (‘hot-spots’) or in the ears and eyes. | | dermatitis (‘hot-spots’) or in the ears and eyes. |
− | More potent products containing betamethasone
| + | |
− | etc. can be used once or twice daily initially, but
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− | hydrocortisone is better for long term, alternate day
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− | treatment. Fuciderm® (contains betamethasone) is
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− | a good choice as the gel formulation allows rapid
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− | penetration and drying.
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| Systemic therapy is necessary with more severe | | Systemic therapy is necessary with more severe |
| or widespread lesions. 0.5-1.0 mg/kg prednisolone | | or widespread lesions. 0.5-1.0 mg/kg prednisolone |
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| cannot be altered, nor the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal | | cannot be altered, nor the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal |
| (HPA) axis allowed to recover. | | (HPA) axis allowed to recover. |
| + | |
| Glucocorticoids will suppress reactions to intradermal | | Glucocorticoids will suppress reactions to intradermal |
| allergen tests, although the effect on serology is believed to be less marked. It is currently | | allergen tests, although the effect on serology is believed to be less marked. It is currently |
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| treatment or with iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism | | treatment or with iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism |
| may need considerably longer withdrawal | | may need considerably longer withdrawal |
− | times (Figure 5). Glucocorticoids are frequently | + | times (Figure 5). |
− | administered to control inflammation during the
| + | |
− | induction phase of immunotherapy. This does not
| + | Common acute side-effects |
− | appear to affect the response rate although there
| + | include polyuria and polydipsia. Other acute sideeffects |
− | are no controlled studies.
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− | Adverse effects arise from the glucocorticoid
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− | and mineralocorticoid activity as well as
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− | suppression of the HPA axis and endogenous
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− | steroid production. Common acute side-effects
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− | include polyuria and polydipsia. The risk of | |
− | these problems developing can be reduced by
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− | using methyl-prednisolone, which has much less
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− | mineralocorticoid activity. Other acute sideeffects
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| include polyphagia and weight gain | | include polyphagia and weight gain |
| (which can be managed using a low calorie diet), | | (which can be managed using a low calorie diet), |
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| Production of dilute urine is a factor that | | Production of dilute urine is a factor that |
| contributes to cystitis. | | contributes to cystitis. |
− | Some of these infections may be clinically
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− | inapparent, as steroid therapy may mask some of
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− | the associated inflammation and characteristic
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− | clinical signs such as pruritus or dysuria.
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− | Because humoral immunity is less affected,
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− | animals can develop adequate antibody titers
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− | following vaccination. For this reason, short
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− | term treatment may be used to control the
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− | clinical signs if cyclosporine has to be withdrawn
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− | because of routine vaccination.
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| ====Hydrocortisone aceponate==== | | ====Hydrocortisone aceponate==== |