From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-04-15 22:54:00 UTC
Subject: New article on Lupron
From this week's Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association:
Leuprolide acetate treatment of adrenocortical disease in ferrets
Effects of leuprolide acetate, a long-acting gonadotropin-releasing
hormone analog, in ferrets with adrenocortical diseases were
evaluated. Ferrets were treated with leuprolide (100 Ug, IM, once)
and plasma hormone concentrations were measured before and 3 to 6
weeks after treatment.
Leuprolide treatment resulted in significant reduction in plasma
estradiol, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, and
dehydroepiandrosterone concentrations and elminated or reduced
clinical signs associated with adrenocortical disease. Decreases in
vulvar swelling, pruuritus, and undesirable sexual behavior and
aggression were evident 14 dys after treatment; hair regrowth was
evident by 4 weeks after treatment. The response to treatment was
transitory, however, and clinical signs recurred in all ferrets.
Mean+/- SEM time to recurrence was 3.7 +/- 0.4 months (range 1.5 to 8
months.) Results suggest that leuprolide can be safely used to
temporarily elminate clinical signs and reduce sex hormone
concentrations in ferrets with adrenocortical diseases. However, the
safety of long-term leurpolide use in ferrets has not been
investigated, and the long-term effects of leuprolide in ferrets with
nodular adrenal gland hyperplasia or adrenal gland tumors are
unknown - R.A Wagner et al. (JAVMA 2001: 218:1272-1274.)
Please note that this article states that Lupron use in ferrets
should be restricted to temporary use, and that recurrence of
clinical signs occurred in all ferrets. This is consistent with my
feelings on the restriction of this drug to non-surgical candidates.
Surgery is still the optimal way to treat adrenal disease in ferrets.
Bruce Williams, DVM