Follow‐up Examinations of Bitches after Conservative Treatment of Pyometra with the Antigestagen Aglepristone

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the therapeutic success of the medical treatment of canine pyometra with the antigestagen aglepristone and to document the recurrence rate in relation to the time interval after treatment with antigestagens. In 48 (92.8%) of the 52 treated bitches, healing could be achieved within the first 3 weeks after the treatment had been started. One bitch died as a result of renal insufficiency; in three bitches there was no emptying of the uterus, so ovariohysterectomy became necessary. In these three patients, ovarian and endometrial cysts were present. Forty-one bitches could be followed up for 3 months. Four animals developed a recurrence (9.8%). In three bitches ovarian cysts and cystic endometrial hyperlasia could be found intra operationem. The development of 37 bitches could be followed for at least 1 year. Seven animals developed a pyometra again (18.9%). Two received a repeated treatment with aglepristone and have been free from recurrence for over 12 months. In 37 animals data on the subsequent sex cycles are available. In 22 bitches next heat started at the expected time, in seven animals heat started too early. In eight bitches the period of anoestrus was prolonged. Five of the six bred bitches delivered at least one litter. The presented data show that treatment of pyometra by aglepristone results in a high healing rate. The recurrence rate can be minimized by the selection of bitches without ovarian cysts and cystic endometrial hyperplasia.

Obligatory roles for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol and androgens in the induction of small polyfollicular ovarian cysts in hypophysectomized immature rats

“…This is in marked contrast to the large polyfollicular cysts observed in FSH + hCG-treated HYPOXD rats [26,29]. These observations raise important questions regarding the actual hormonal interactions that result in hyperstimulated ovaries with small polyfollicular cysts in other mammals [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. To our knowledge, the data presented in this series of experiments is the first to directly address the conceptual dichotomy between the enlarged, generally stimulated appearance of ovaries bearing small polycystic follicles and the obligatory role of LH in determining the final optimal size for normally developing preovulatory follicles as well as the ability of unabated stimulation by subovulatory doses of LH-like activity to drive the specific development of large ovarian cysts in mammalian ovaries.…”

“…The spontaneous expression of ovarian cysts is a common occurrence in many mammalian species [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17], and is the leading cause of infertility in women [15][16][17]31]. The heterogeneous endocrine environments associated with an established cystic ovary state suggests that cystic ovaries develop in response to one or more disruptions of normal interactions within the complex polygenetic relationships that regulate the metabolic environment and the entrainment of reproductive cyclicity [15,31].…”

“…Ovarian cysts develop spontaneously in many mammalian species, including but not limited to cows, dogs, pigs, rats, cats, and women [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Unlike the synchronized hormonal profiles associated with normal reproductive cycles, the peripheral hormonal environments associated with established cystic ovary states are extremely heterogeneous and display only sporadic cyclicity.…”

Treatment of growth hormone excess in dogs with the progesterone receptor antagonist aglépristone

“…Blood samples for determination of the plasma concentrations of GH and IGF-I were collected before MPA treatment, at days À9, À8, À7, À5, À3, À2, À1, and 0 (=immediately before aglépristone treatment and after MPA treatment for over 1 year), at days 1, 3,5,7,8,11,13,15,18,20,22, and 25 (=during aglépristone treatment), and at days 46 and 60 (=3.5 and 5.5 weeks after the last aglépristone treatment). On days of treatment (MPA or aglépristone), blood samples were collected prior to the drug administration.…”

“…Aglépristone is the first progesterone receptor blocker licensed for veterinary use and has been used efficiently to terminate pregnancy [16,17] and to induce parturition [18]. Furthermore, it is successfully used for the treatment of fibroadenomatous mammary hyperplasia in cats [19][20][21] and may be a useful adjunct in the medical treatment of endometritis and pyometra in the dog [22].…”