Low-dose recombinant canine interferon-γ for treatment of canine atopic dermatitis: An open randomized comparative trial of two doses

• Published in: Veterinary dermatology 2010-02, Vol.21 (1), p.42-49
• Main Authors: Yasukawa, Kuniyoshi, Saito, Shiori, Kubo, Takuya, Shibasaki, Yuya, Yamaoka, Kayo, Hachimura, Hisae, Kuyama, Tomoko, Amimoto, Akiteru, Kumata, Tsuyoshi, Kitahara, Yuko, Takenaka, Masahiko, Matsumura, Hitoshi, Uno, Takehiro, Uchino, Tomiya, Takehara, Kazutaka, Nishida, Kouji, Kadoya, Michiyo, Sato, Masafumi, Kato, Kaoru, Matsumoto, Kanako, Saito, Satoshi, Shimoda, Tetsuya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adverse effects; Animals; atopic dermatitis; cytokines; Dermatitis, Atopic - drug therapy; Dermatitis, Atopic - veterinary; dog diseases; Dog Diseases - drug therapy; Dogs; dosage; dose response; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; food allergies; Interferon-gamma - administration & dosage; Interferon-gamma - therapeutic use; interferons; Male; randomized comparative trial; recombinant canine interferon-gamma; Recombinant Proteins; signs and symptoms (animals and humans); therapeutics
• ISSN: 0959-4493; 1365-3164
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2009.00764.x

The purpose of this study was to investigate the minimum effective dose of recombinant canine interferon-γ (rCaIFN-γ) for the treatment of dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD). Thirty-four dogs with AD from 17 animal hospitals in Japan were administered half or one-fifth of the approved rCaIFN-γ dose of 10 000 units/kg, three times a week for 4 weeks, followed by once weekly for an additional 4 weeks. Pruritus, excoriation, erythema and alopecia were evaluated and scored by the investigators on weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12. The efficacy rate (number of excellent cases + number of good cases/total number of cases) at week 8 in the 2000 units/kg group was 36.4% for pruritus, 36.4% for excoriation, 45.5% for erythema and 36.4% for alopecia. In contrast, in the 5000 units/kg group, the efficacy rate was 64.3% for pruritus, 57.1% for excoriation, 78.6% for erythema and 78.6% for alopecia. The efficacy rate of the 5000 units/kg group was high for all signs evaluated and comparable to that of the 10 000 units/kg group reported in a previous study. The results of this study showed that 2000 units/kg of rCaIFN-γ is less effective than 5000 units/kg to treat dogs with AD, and the efficacy of the 5000 units/kg dose is comparable to that of 10 000 units/kg at week 8.