Combination chemotherapy of canine and feline cryptococcosis using subcutaneously administered amphotericin B

Aust Vet J. 1996 Apr;73(4):124-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1996.tb10003.x.

Abstract

Six cases (3 cats, 3 dogs) of cryptococcosis were cured using combination chemotherapy that included amphotericin B. We developed a simple, practical and inexpensive method of administering amphotericin B as a subcutaneous infusion during the treatment of these patients. For this, the calculated dose of amphotericin B (0.5 to 0.8 mg/kg) was added to 400 mL, for cats, or to 500 mL, for dogs, of 0.45% saline containing 2.5% dextrose. These amounts were given subcutaneously 2 or 3 times weekly over several months, to a total cumulative dose of 8 to 26 mg/kg body weight. Subcutaneous infusions were generally well tolerated by the animals, although concentrations of amphotericin B in excess of 20 mg/L resulted in local irritation. This protocol enabled the administration of larger, and thus more effective, quantities of amphotericin B without producing marked azotaemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Amphotericin B / administration & dosage*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antifungal Agents / administration & dosage
  • Cat Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Cats
  • Cryptococcosis / drug therapy
  • Cryptococcosis / veterinary*
  • Dog Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Dogs
  • Drug Administration Schedule / veterinary
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Flucytosine / administration & dosage
  • Injections, Subcutaneous / veterinary
  • Male
  • Triazoles / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Triazoles
  • Amphotericin B
  • Flucytosine