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- Author or Editor: Todd W. Axlund x
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Abstract
Objective—To determine whether therapeutic concentrations of levetiracetam can be achieved in cats and to establish reasonable IV and oral dosing intervals that would not be associated with adverse effects in cats.
Animals—10 healthy purpose-bred cats.
Procedures—In a randomized crossover study, levetiracetam (20 mg/kg) was administered orally and IV to each cat. Blood samples were collected 0, 10, 20, and 40 minutes and 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours after administration. Plasma levetiracetam concentrations were determined via high-performance liquid chromatography.
Results—Mean ± SD peak concentration was 25.54 ± 7.97 μg/mL. The mean y-intercept for IV administration was 37.52 ± 6.79 μg/mL. Half-life (harmonic mean ± pseudo-SD) was 2.95 ± 0.95 hours and 2.86 ± 0.65 hours for oral and IV administration, respectively. Mean volume of distribution at steady state was 0.52 ± 0.09 L/kg, and mean clearance was 2.0 ± 0.60 mL/kg/min. Mean oral bioavailability was 102 ± 39%. Plasma drug concentrations were maintained in the therapeutic range reported for humans (5 to 45 μg/mL) for at least 9 hours after administration in 7 of 10 cats. Only mild, transient hypersalivation was evident in some cats after oral administration.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Levetiracetam (20 mg/kg) administered orally or IV to cats every 8 hours should achieve and maintain concentrations within the therapeutic range for humans. Levetiracetam administration has favorable pharmacokinetics for clinical use, was apparently tolerated well, and may be a reasonable alternative antiepileptic drug in cats.
Abstract
Objective—To compare, for dogs with intracranial meningiomas, survival times for dogs treated with surgical resection followed by radiation therapy with survival times for dogs treated with surgery alone.
Design—Retrospective study.
Animals—31 dogs with intracranial meningiomas.
Procedure—Medical records of dogs with histologic confirmation of an intracranial meningioma were reviewed. For each dog, signalment, clinical signs, tumor location, treatment protocol, and survival time were obtained from the medical record and through follow-up telephone interviews.
Results—Dogs that underwent tumor resection alone and survived > 1 week after surgery had a median survival time of 7 months (range, 0.5 to 22 months). Dogs that underwent tumor resection followed by radiation therapy had a median survival time of 16.5 months (range, 3 to 58 months).
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that in dogs with intracranial meningiomas, use of radiation therapy as a supplement to tumor resection can significantly extend life expectancy. (J Am Med Vet Assoc 2002;221:1597–1600)
