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Hermans M, Charalambous M, Pakozdy A, et al. Evaluation of the effect of phenobarbital administration on the biochemistry profile, with a focus on serum liver values, in epileptic cats. J Feline Med Surg. 2021;1098612X211037431doi: 10.1177/1098612X211037431.
Hermans, M., Charalambous, M., Pakozdy, A., Eisl-Glantschnigg, U., Neßler, J., Van Meervenne, S. A., Serrano, G., Cornelis, I., Van Ham, L., Paepe, D., Broeckx, B. J., & Bhatti, S. F. (2021). Evaluation of the effect of phenobarbital administration on the biochemistry profile, with a focus on serum liver values, in epileptic cats. Journal of feline medicine and surgery, 1098612X211037431. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X211037431
Hermans, Michelle, et al. "Evaluation of the effect of phenobarbital administration on the biochemistry profile, with a focus on serum liver values, in epileptic cats." Journal of feline medicine and surgery vol. (2021): 1098612X211037431. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X211037431
Hermans M, Charalambous M, Pakozdy A, Eisl-Glantschnigg U, Neßler J, Van Meervenne SA, Serrano G, Cornelis I, Van Ham L, Paepe D, Broeckx BJ, Bhatti SF. Evaluation of the effect of phenobarbital administration on the biochemistry profile, with a focus on serum liver values, in epileptic cats. J Feline Med Surg. 2021 Aug 13;1098612X211037431. doi: 10.1177/1098612X211037431. Epub 2021 Aug 13. PMID: 34387120.
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J Feline Med Surg. 2021 Aug 13;1098612X211037431. doi: 10.1177/1098612X211037431. Epub 2021 Aug 13.

Evaluation of the effect of phenobarbital administration on the biochemistry profile, with a focus on serum liver values, in epileptic cats.

Journal of feline medicine and surgery

Michelle Hermans, Marios Charalambous, Akos Pakozdy, Ursula Eisl-Glantschnigg, Jasmin Neßler, Sofie Ae Van Meervenne, Gonçalo Serrano, Ine Cornelis, Luc Van Ham, Dominique Paepe, Bart Jg Broeckx, Sofie Fm Bhatti

Affiliations

  1. Small Animal Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
  2. Clinical Unit of Internal Medicine Small Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
  3. Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
  4. AniCura Kalmar Animal Clinic, Kalmar, Sweden.
  5. Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.

PMID: 34387120 DOI: 10.1177/1098612X211037431

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Phenobarbital (PB) is the most common antiseizure drug (ASD) used for the management of feline epilepsy. In dogs, PB is known to cause serum liver enzyme induction and hepatotoxicity, especially after administration long term or in high concentrations. In cats, insufficient evidence is available to draw similar conclusions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PB administration on the serum biochemistry profile of epileptic cats. As an additional objective, other adverse effects arising, related to PB treatment, were recorded.

METHODS: Medical records of four veterinary centres were retrospectively reviewed for epileptic cats receiving PB treatment. Cats were included if they had a diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy or structural epilepsy; a normal baseline serum biochemistry profile; at least one follow-up serum biochemistry profile; no concurrent disease or had not received medication that could possibly influence liver function or lead to serum liver enzyme induction. Alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transferase activities, and total bilirubin, bile acids, glucose, albumin, total protein, urea and creatinine concentrations before and during PB administration were recorded. PB serum concentration was also recorded, when available.

RESULTS: Thirty-three cats (24 males, nine females) with a median age of 3 years (range 2 months to 12 years) met the inclusion criteria. Idiopathic or structural epilepsy was diagnosed in 25 (76%) and eight (24%) cats, respectively. The follow-up period ranged from 9 to 62 months. This study found an increase in ALT in three cats, possibly related to a PB serum concentration >30 µg/ml. No statistically significant increase in serum liver enzymes or other evaluated biochemistry parameters was found by comparing pre- and post-treatment parameters.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: PB administration did not result in hepatic enzyme induction or other biochemical abnormalities in cats. This strengthens the safety profile of PB as an ASD in cats.

Keywords: Epilepsy; antiseizure drug; hepatotoxicity; phenobarbital

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