Grapiprant or carprofen following ovariohysterectomy in the cat: analgesic efficacy, hematological, biochemical and urinalysis evaluation

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to compare the analgesic effect between carprofen and grapiprant every 12 or 24 h on postoperative pain in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy, in addition to the effects on the hematological, biochemical and urinalysis variables. Methods A total of 32 female cats were randomly divided into three groups, according to the treatment administered with the first dose given orally 90 mins before surgery, as follows: CAR (cats received 4 mg/kg carprofen, n = 11); GRA1 (cats received 2 mg/kg grapiprant, n = 10); and GRA2 (cats received 2 mg/kg grapiprant q12h, n = 11). Pain was assessed by UNESP-Botucatu Multidimensional Composite Pain Scale (UNESP) and Glasgow Feline Composite Measure Pain Scale (GLASGOW) for cats preoperatively (baseline) and at 1, 3, 6, 8, 12 and 24 h after extubation. Venous blood was collected at baseline, and 12 and 24 h after the administration of carprofen or grapiprant to perform a complete blood count (CBC), the percentage of Heinz bodies and serum biochemistry (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, creatinine and urea). Urinalysis was performed at baseline and 24 h after extubation. Glucose levels were evaluated at baseline and 1 h postoperatively. Results Pain scores were not significantly different among groups in both scales, although pain was higher at 3 h in comparison with 24 h in all groups. In the GRA1 and GRA2 groups, 67% (14/21) of cats needed rescue analgesia compared with 18% (2/11) in the CAR group. Glucose increased from baseline to 1 h in the GRA1 and GRA2 groups. None of the CBC, serum biochemistry and urinalysis variables differed among groups. Conclusions and relevance Grapiprant did not promote adequate analgesia during the first 3 h postoperatively in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy compared with carprofen, and no benefits were observed by administering grapiprant every 12 h.

Evaluation of the analgesic efficacy of grapiprant compared with robenacoxib in cats undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy in a prospective, randomized, masked, non-inferiority clinical trial

“…However, contrary to our study, rescue an algesia was required in 67% of the cats receiving grapiprant compared with 18% of cats receiving carprofen according to the UNESP-Botucatu Multidimensional Composite Pain Scale. 33 This is a greater percentage of required rescue analgesia compared with the present study, in which only 5.2% of cats treated with grapiprant required it. These authors theorized that grapiprant exhibited a late analgesic effect due to insufficient time for EP4 receptor exposure and thus lack of antagonism of this receptor.…”

“…Similar studies 8 , 32 evaluated the efficacy of oral robenacoxib vs placebo in cats undergoing forelimb onychectomy and OVH with similar results to the present study, where rescue analgesia was required in 16.5% and 43.3% of cats administered robenacoxib and placebo, respectively. A study conducted by Teixeira et al 33 compared the analgesic efficacy of grapiprant vs carprofen in cats undergoing OVH, which reported no difference between the treatments when the CMPS-F was used. However, contrary to our study, rescue analgesia was required in 67% of the cats receiving grapiprant compared with 18% of cats receiving carprofen according to the UNESP-Botucatu Multidimensional Composite Pain Scale.…”

“…These authors theorized that grapiprant exhibited a late analgesic effect due to insufficient time for EP4 receptor exposure and thus lack of antagonism of this receptor. 33,34 It is also possible that grapiprant is less effective than traditional NSAIDs due to the blockade of only one of four PGE2 receptors, EP4, which leaves the pronociceptive EP2 receptor active. This is consistent with the results obtained in dogs with experimentally induced synovitis, where grapiprant was less effective than carprofen.…”