The use of recombinant omega interferon therapy in canine atopic dermatitis: a double‐blind controlled study

Abstract

This double-blind controlled study assessed whether reduced doses of omega interferon (rFeIFN-omega) (Virbagen Omega) could improve the clinical signs of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) over a 6-month period, in comparison with cyclosporin. Thirty-one dogs diagnosed with CAD were entered in the study. Complicating infections were treated prior to entry. Dogs received 10 injections of rFeIFN-omega (1-5 million units according to bodyweight) or placebo over 6 months, and placebo capsules or cyclosporin (5 mg/kg) once daily for 2 months and then twice weekly for 4 months in groups 1 and 2 respectively. Flea control, non-medicated shampooing and ear cleansing were performed regularly. If a bacterial infection or Malassezia overgrowth developed, it was treated with oral cephalexin or with 3% chlorhexidine shampoo respectively. Oral prednisolone was used before day 90 to relieve pruritus when required for humane reasons (1 mg/kg once daily for 7 days). The CADESI-03 and a pruritus index were evaluated on day (D) 0, D14, D35, D56, D90, D120 and D180. No significant difference was detected between the groups for the time courses of lesions or pruritus over 6 months. On D90, the proportions of dogs with > or =50% improvement of pruritus and lesion scores were 56% and 72% respectively with interferon, 75% and 75% respectively with cyclosporin. Five dogs from group 1 and two dogs from group 2 were withdrawn from the study for treatment failure. Both products were well tolerated. Treatment with rfeIFN-omega at low doses may help for the long-term management of CAD.

A systematic review of randomized controlled trials for prevention or treatment of atopic dermatitis in dogs: 2008–2011 update

“…Of the RCTs that tested the evolution of skin lesions over time, the validated third version of the CADESI score was used in 10 studies, 21–24,26,27,29,30,34,35 while five trials employed the second version of this scale, which had limited validation 25,31,33,36,37 . Four trials employed unvalidated scales modified from the first, second or third versions of the CADESI – the so called ‘modified CADESI’ or ‘mCADESI’– having changed the type of lesions, the body sites and/or the severity rating used (A. Puigdemont, personal communication 2012) 28,38,39 .…”

“…Of 20 RCTs that tested the efficacy of interventions on pruritus, 16 used the evolution of scores obtained on a visual analog scale (VAS), which varied between 5 and 20 cm; only three 22,29,30 used the PVAS developed and validated by Hill and colleagues, 15 even though it was first published in 2007 before some of these RCTs were designed. Finally, three trials used other ad hoc unvalidated pruritus scales 35,38,40 …”

“…In summary, out of 21 RCTs, only one had an overall quality rated as ‘poor’, 33 seven were given an ‘intermediate’ rating, 31,35–40 and the remaining 13 had the highest quality mark (Table 2). The most common reason for not attributing this ‘high‐quality’ rating was a lack of performance of ITT analyses 33,35,36,38 …”

Interferon-omega: Current status in clinical applications

“…International Immunopharmacology 52 (2017) [253][254][255][256][257][258][259][260] with subcutaneously administered rFeIFN-ω had a comparable efficacy to orally-administered cyclosporin [105]. In later studies [106], oral IFN therapy showed higher efficacy than the subcutaneous treatment in terms of the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index and total scores, although the improvement of pruritus and quality of life scores were not significant; however, in this study, serum antibodies against rFeIFN-ω were not detected in any of the dogs.…”

Clinical use of a ceramide-based moisturizer for treating dogs with atopic dermatitis

“…The entire body was divided into head, neck, trunk (axillae), ventral abdominal, front leg, hind leg, inguinal, and ano-genital regions. Pruritus was then graded according to intensity and frequency in these eight areas [1]. …”