Randomised controlled trial of fractionated and unfractionated prednisolone regimens for dogs with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia by James Swann and colleagues
A single daily dose of prednisolone resulted in fewer adverse effects than a split dose (twice daily regime) in the treatment of dogs with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA).
IMHA is thought to be the most common autoimmune disease in dogs, but little is known about treatments and there is no consensus about the use of glucocorticoids such as prednisolone. This randomised, non-blinded, non-inferiority trial compared a fractionated (2 mg/kg twice daily) versus an unfractionated (4 mg/kg once daily) regimen of oral prednisolone in 34 dogs with primary IMHA.
Dogs receiving a single dose showed more rapid improvement in polydipsia, and had lower systemic blood pressure and score for polyuria. They also had significantly higher lymphocyte concentrations.
The effect of the different dosing regimens on survival could not be assessed because an insufficient number of dogs were recruited.
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