Itraconazole for the treatment of cryptococcosis in cats

J Vet Intern Med. 1995 Jan-Feb;9(1):39-42. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1995.tb03270.x.

Abstract

Itraconazole was used in 35 cats with cryptococcosis. Treatment response was determined by comparing clinical signs before, during, and after treatment. It could not be evaluated in 7 cats because they died during treatment from causes unrelated to cryptococcosis. Of the remaining 28 cats, treatment response was classified as success in 16 cats (57%), as improvement in 8 cats (29%), and as a failure in 4 (14%). The failures were due to death or euthanasia from drug toxicity (1 cat), progressive fungal disease (2 cats), and relapse 1 year after treatment (1 cat). The cats that improved did not undergo a 1-year posttreatment evaluation because they were lost to follow-up (3 cats), died or were euthanatized for other reasons (4 cats), or had a noncompliant owner (1 cat). For the 16 cats in which treatment was successful, the median itraconazole dose was 13.8 mg/kg body weight daily (range, 10.9 to 26.7 mg/kg/d), and the median duration of treatment was 8.5 months (range, 4 to 16 months). Five of these cats had previously been treated unsuccessfully with ketoconazole.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Animals
  • Cat Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Cats
  • Cryptococcosis / drug therapy
  • Cryptococcosis / veterinary*
  • Female
  • Itraconazole / adverse effects
  • Itraconazole / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Itraconazole
  • Alanine Transaminase