Systemic Lupus Erythematous

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

Systemic Lupus Erythematous

By: Dr. Rosanna Marsalla

Pages 1 2 3

Section: Veterinary Care In-depth

Treatment In-depth

Immunosuppressive treatment is required. It includes a combination of high doses of glucocorticoids (prednisone) and other immunosuppressive drugs (cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, chlorambucil). Therapy is life-long.

Prednisone is used at initial dosage of 1 milligrams per pound of body weight given twice daily for 10 to 14 days (induction period). After the induction period, the dosage is gradually tapered over a period of several weeks until an every-other-day regimen is achieved. Gastrointestinal ulcerations may complicate long-term administration of high doses of glucocorticoids. Dogs receiving high doses of glucocorticoids should be monitored for vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite. Complete blood counts are recommended every two weeks for the first few months of therapy to evaluate white blood cell and platelet counts.

Azathioprine (Imuran®) is used at a dosage of 1 milligrams per pound of body weight every day or every other day. Azathioprine can cause bone marrow suppression, liver disease and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Bloody diarrhea also may occur in some instances. A lag phase of 6 to 8 weeks is necessary before the full effect of azathioprine is achieved.

Chlorambucil (Leukeran®) can be used in conjunction with glucocorticoids at a dosage of 0.1 milligram per pound of body weight every other day. It also has the potential for bone marrow suppression but may be safer than azathioprine. A lag phase of eight weeks is necessary before full efficacy of chlorambucil is achieved. Cyclophosphamide is another immunosuppressive drug of the same class as chlorambucil that can be used to treat systemic lupus erythematosus.

Gold salts also have been used to treat animals with immune-mediated disease. They should be avoided in dogs with kidney disease due to their potential for causing kidney damage and protein loss in the urine.

The prognosis for dogs with systemic lupus erythematosus is guarded and depends on the extent of kidney damage (glomerulonephritis) and the severity of anemia and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count). As many as 40 percent of dogs with systemic lupus erythematosus die within one year after diagnosis due either to the disease itself or to adverse effects of treatment.

Pages 1 2 3

Printable Version

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

Share this Article with a Friend Email To:

Have a Pet Question?

Send Your Pet Question to Dr. Jon
and His Staff of Veterinarians

Dr. Jon's Newsletter

Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...

Search Over 15,000 articles

1 Pemphigus Foliaceus in Dogs
This is a severe skin disease that is characterized by pustules and blisters that rupture, causing damage to the skin of the face, ears, feet and eventually the entire skin.
Read More
2 Discoid Lupus
Discoid lupus erythematosus is considered a benign form of systemic lupus. It is limited to the skin and can affect both people and dogs. In dogs, the face and nose are commonly affected areas, and direct...
Read More

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

Dogs & Puppies

Dog Breeds

labrador retriever, golden retriever, yorkshire terriers, german shepherds, beagle, boxers

Dog Medication

dog allergy medication, dog pain medication, dog anxiety medication, dog flea medication

Dog Products

dog bowls, dog crates, dog toys, dog beds, dog ramps, dog food storage, dog tags

Dog Symptoms

dog vomiting, dog limping, dog diarrhea, dog bad breath, dog coughing, dog seizures

Dog Health

dog cancer, dog diabetes, dog epilepsy, dog hip dysplasia, dog health, sick dog

Dog Care

dog vaccination, dog microchipping, dog grooming, dog neutering, dog spaying, dogs mating

Dog Training

dog aggression, dog barking, dog chewing, dog behavior, dog jumping, dog whisperer

Dog Pictures

puppy pictures, funny dogs, cute dogs, dog breeds, sleeping dogs, silly dogs, small dogs

Cats

Cat Breeds

persian, siamese cats, devon rex, ragdoll cats, sphynx, maine coon cat

Cat Medication

cat flea medication, cat heartworm control, cat tick medications

Cat Products

cat litter box, cat food, cat bed, cat flea collar, cat carrier, cat urine odor

Cat Symptoms

cat vomiting, cat limping, cat diarrhea, cat bad breath, cat coughing

Cat Health

cat health, cat liver cancer, cat diabetes, cat scratch fever, cat aids, sick cat

Cat Care

cat vaccination, cat grooming, cat microchipping, cat neutering, cat spaying

Cat Behavior

cat urine marking, cat furniture scratching, cat litterbox training, cat toilet training, cat fears

Cat Pictures

cute cats, funny cats, playful cats, fat cats, jumping cats, lazy cats, sleeping cats, cute kittens

1 Discoid Lupus
Discoid lupus erythematosus is considered a benign form of systemic lupus. It is limited to the skin and can affect both people and dogs. In dogs, the face and nose are commonly affected areas, and direct...
Read More
2 Pemphigus Foliaceus in Dogs
This is a severe skin disease that is characterized by pustules and blisters that rupture, causing damage to the skin of the face, ears, feet and eventually the entire skin.
Read More

Systemic Lupus Erythematous

Systemic Lupus Erythematous

Related Articles

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles