Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2005; 18(02): 94-99
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1632937
Brief Communication
Schattauer GmbH

Disease modifying treatment for feline rheumatoid arthritis

F. Y. Hanna
Further Information

Publication History

Received 17 July 2003

Accepted 13 November 2004

Publication Date:
08 February 2018 (online)

Summary

Feline erosive polyarthritis includes the more common periosteal proliferative polyarthritis (PPP) and the rarely seen rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (11). During the past three years, 12 patients with definite feline rheumatoid arthritis, which did not respond well to conventional therapy, were treated with 7.5 mg of Methotrexate and 70 mg Leflunomide, given weekly by the oral route. The average age of the cats was 5.9 years (range 2.5 to 10 years). Siamese cats were over represented. Seven of the 12 (58%) cats showed a marked improvement, usually within four weeks. Once maximum improvement was obtained the dosage was decreased. Serious toxicity was not noted and carcinogenetic effect was not seen during the course of this study.

 
  • References

  • 1 Bell SC, Carter SD, May C. et al. IgM rheumatoid factors in canine rheumatoid arthritis. J Small Anim Pract (1933) 34: 259-64.
  • 2 Bennett D. The naturally occurring inflammatory arthropathies of the dog. (1980) Ph D thesis. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. University of Glasgow;
  • 3 Bennett D. The musculoskeletal system. Feline Medicine and therapeutics, (1985). Edited by Chandler E.A, Gaskell C.J, and Hilbery D.R. Blackwall Scientific publications; Oxford.:
  • 4 Bennett D. Immune based erosive inflammatory joint disease of the dog: Canine rheumatoid arthritis clinical and radiological investigations. J Small Anim Pract (1987a) 28: 779-7.
  • 5 Bennett D. Immune based erosive inflammatory joint disease of the dog: Canine rheumatoid arthritis 2. Pathological investigations. J Small Anim Pract (1987b) 28: 799-819.
  • 6 Bennett D, Kirkham D. The Laboratory identification of serum rheumatoid factor in the dog. J Comp Pathol (1987) 97: 541-50.
  • 7 Bennett D, Nash AS. Feline immune based polyarthritis: A study of thirty-one cases. J Small Anim Pract 1988; 29: 501-23.
  • 8 Blahser S. Über nicht alltägliche Todesursachen und einige plötzliche Todesfälle bei der Katze. Klientier Prax 1962; 7: 192-7.
  • 9 Bonomo L, Tursi A, Minera V. Immunofuresence study of rheumatoid factor in liver tissue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and hepatic disease. J Pathol Bacteriol 1966; 92: 423-31.
  • 10 Joshua JO. 'The clinical aspects of some diseases of cats'. Philadelphia, JB. Lippncott: 1965: 170-2.
  • 11 Mitchell RAS. Feline immune related polyarthritis. (2000) Pub Feline Centre University of Bristol: Feline update 1-3.
  • 12 O'Dell JR. How is it best to treat early rheumatoid arthritis. Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology 2001; 15: 125-37.
  • 13 Pederson NC, Pool RR, O'Brien T. Feline chronic progressive polyarthritis. AJVR 1980; 41: 522-35.
  • 14 Schuna AA, Megeff C. New drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2000; 57: 225-34.
  • 15 Tsukanas E, Fitzgerald AA, Fitzcharles MA. et al. Consequences of delayed therapy with second-line agents in rheumatoid arthritis – a 3 year followup on the hydroxychloroquine in early rheumatoid arthritis (HERA) study. J Rheumatol 2000; 27 (3) 623-9.