A proposed medication score for long‐term trials of treatment of canine atopic dermatitis sensu lato. (21st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saridomichelakis, Manolis N.; Favrot, Claude; Jackson, Hilary A.; Bensignor, Emmanuel; Prost, Christine; Mueller, Ralf S.
• Is Part Of: Veterinary record. Volume 188:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: N/A
• Page End: N/A
• Publication Date: 2021-01-21
• Subjects: atopic -- canine -- dog -- medication -- score -- treatment -- trial; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine vétérinaire -- Périodiques; Veterinary medicine; Veterinary Medicine; Periodicals; Periodical; Electronic journals; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1002/vetr.19
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0042-4900

Abstract

Abstract: Background : The use of concurrent medications is necessary in trials of treatment of canine atopic dermatitis. Our aim was to use the best available evidence to construct and then to validate a medication score (MS) formula that will estimate the impact of concurrent medications on trial outcomes. Methods : Trials of 15 interventions were scrutinized to find those that were consistent in terms of specific medication, administration route and dosage regimen. A MS was constructed in five steps, starting from assigning a score of 1 for each day on oral prednisone, prednisolone or methylprednisolone at 0.5–1.0 mg/kg. The MS score was validated using the clinical records of 35 dogs with atopic dermatitis that had been treated for a period of 12 ± 2 weeks with six of these medications and compared with a previously published non‐validated MS. Results : A MS could be assigned to eight treatments, six of which had been administered to the 35 dogs. A positive correlation was seen with the previously published MS and a negative correlation with changes in lesional and pruritus scores. Conclusion : This MS may be a useful tool in new studies evaluating the efficacy of treatments in canine atopic dermatitis