Uroliths composed of antiviral compound GS‐441524 in 2 cats undergoing treatment for feline infectious peritonitis

Abstract

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) historically has been a fatal disease in cats. Recent unlicensed use of antiviral medication has been shown to markedly improve survival of this infection. An 8‐month‐old female spayed domestic short‐haired cat undergoing treatment for presumptive FIP with the antiviral nucleoside analog GS‐441524 developed acute progressive azotemia. Abdominal ultrasound examination identified multifocal urolithiasis including renal, ureteral, and cystic calculi. Unilateral ureteral obstruction progressed to suspected bilateral ureteral obstruction and subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB) was performed along with urolith removal and submission for analysis. A 2‐year‐old male neutered domestic medium‐haired cat undergoing treatment for confirmed FIP with GS‐441524 developed dysuria (weak urine stream, urinary incontinence, and difficulty expressing the urinary bladder). This cat also was diagnosed sonographically with multifocal urolithiasis requiring temporary tube cystostomy after cystotomy and urolith removal. In both cases, initial urolith analysis showed unidentified material. Additional testing confirmed the calculi in both cats to be 98% consistent with GS‐441524. Additional clinical studies are required to determine best screening practices for cats presented for urolithiasis during treatment with GS‐441524.

Measurement of Feline Alpha-1 Acid Glycoprotein in Serum and Effusion Using an ELISA Method: Analytical Validation and Diagnostic Role for Feline Infectious Peritonitis

“…If untreated, FIP is invariably fatal. Recently, antiviral treatments have been established and demonstrated to be effective [ 1 , 2 , 3 ], although a few side effects have been reported [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ] and very little information is available about possible long-term effects [ 7 , 8 ]. Treatment is recommended where the drugs is legally available [ 3 ], but unfortunately, in the large majority of countries, the drug is not licensed; therefore, treatments are not allowed.…”