Immunomodulatory drugs and their application to the management of canine immune-mediated disease

• Published in: Journal of small animal practice Vol. 52; no. 2; pp. 70 - 85
• Main Authors: Whitley, N.T, Day, M.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-02-2011
• Subjects: Anemia; Animals; Autoimmunity; azathioprine; Bisphosphonates; Clodronic acid; Cyclophosphamide; Dog Diseases - drug therapy; Dog Diseases - immunology; Dogs; Glomerulonephritis; Glucocorticoids; Immune response; Immune System Diseases - drug therapy; Immune System Diseases - immunology; Immune System Diseases - veterinary; Immunoglobulins; Immunomodulation; Immunosuppressive agents; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Inflammatory bowel diseases; Intravenous administration; leflunomide; Lymphocytes T; Myasthenia gravis; Mycophenolate mofetil; Neuromuscular junctions; Tacrolimus; Thrombocytopenia; Vincristine
• ISSN: 0022-4510; 1748-5827
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-5827.2011.01024.x

This review summarises the current understanding of immune response and T cell subsets in the context of development of autoimmunity in the dog. Mode of action and rational usage in immune-mediated disease in the dog are discussed for the following drugs: glucocorticoids, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, ciclosporin, tacrolimus, human intravenous immunoglobulin, vincristine, danazol, leflunomide, mycophenolate mofetil and liposome-encapsulated clodronate. Disease mechanisms are discussed and published evidence for drug efficacy is scrutinised for five important immune-mediated diseases: immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, myasthenia gravis, glomerulonephritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Future strategies for more refined manipulation of adverse immune responses are presented.