Effects of short-term anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid treatment on clinicopathologic, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic variables in systemically healthy dogs

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To investigate mechanisms by which anti-inflammatory doses of orally administered intermediate-acting glucocorticoids (prednisone) could predispose dogs to progression of heart disease or congestive heart failure. ANIMALS 11 client-owned dogs with allergic dermatitis and 11 matched healthy control dogs. PROCEDURES Clinicopathologic, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic variables were measured. Dogs with allergic dermatitis then received prednisone (1 mg/kg, PO) once daily for 14 consecutive days beginning on day 0 (baseline), followed by a tapering and washout period; control dogs received no treatment. Measurements were repeated on days 7, 14, and 35. Linear mixed modeling was used to compare changes in variables across measurement points and between dog groups. RESULTS Prednisone administration caused no significant changes in serum sodium or potassium concentration, blood glucose concentration, or target echocardiographic variables. The change from baseline in systolic arterial blood pressure at day 7 was significantly greater in prednisone-treated dogs than in control dogs. Expected changes in hematologic and serum biochemical values with prednisone administration (neutrophilia, eosinopenia, isosthenuria, and high serum alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase activities) also occurred in the prednisone-treated dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Findings suggested that anti-inflammatory doses of orally administered glucocorticoids have the potential to adversely impact cardiac function in dogs by causing an increase in blood pressure and thus increased cardiac afterload.

Prognostic Value of Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio in Canine High-Grade Lymphoma Cases.

“…It has been reported that lymphocyte counts were significantly decreased compared to those of healthy control dogs after two weeks of antiinflammatory doses of prednisone therapy (Moore et al, 1992). However, it is reported that prednisone administration to healthy dogs with allergic dermatitis caused no significant changes in lymphocyte concentration (Masters et al, 2018). In this study, eight dogs treated with prednisolone prior to sampling had lower lymphocyte concentrations (median 555 cells/µl; ranged between 0-1944 cells/µl) compared to the remaining dogs (median 1395 /µl; ranged between 0-12376 cells/µl).…”

ACVIM consensus statement on the treatment of immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs

“…Other long‐term adverse effects include alopecia; thin skin; calcinosis cutis; susceptibility to bruising; muscle atrophy; fat redistribution to the abdomen with a resulting pot‐bellied appearance; hepatomegaly; predisposition to pyoderma, demodicosis, and urinary tract infections; and exacerbation of congestive heart failure . Predisposition to diabetes mellitus and pancreatitis also is suspected to be associated with chronic glucocorticoid treatment .…”

“…hepatomegaly; predisposition to pyoderma, demodicosis, and urinary tract infections; and exacerbation of congestive heart failure. 66 Predisposition to diabetes mellitus and pancreatitis also is suspected to be associated with chronic glucocorticoid treatment. [67][68][69] Commonly observed clinicopathologic abnormalities include a stress leukogram and increased serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, with occasional polycythemia, thrombocytosis, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia.…”

Echocardiographic and biomarker evidence of plasma volume expansion after short‐term steroids administered orally in cats

“…In the current study, the increase in heart size was likely due to volume expansion secondary to mineralocorticoid effects since there was no significant change in BG concentration with steroid treatment. Blood pressure was not significantly different after steroid treatment and systemic hypertension does not seem to be a clinically relevant effect of steroids administered PO in cats as in dogs . Total solids concentration significantly increased after steroid treatment and might be due to increased hepatic synthesis of albumin or increased circulating lipids .…”

“…Additionally, glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors on vascular smooth muscle mediate vasoconstriction by affecting transmembrane sodium and calcium flux in canine and lapine arteries, and therefore steroid therapy might increase vascular resistance . Increased systemic blood pressure is associated with a short course of steroids administered PO in dogs . Thus, increased plasma volume, hypertrophy‐associated diastolic dysfunction, and increased afterload due to enhanced systemic vascular resistance are all mechanisms by which steroids might predispose a cat to develop congestive heart failure (CHF).…”