Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How mycophenolate mofetil affects immune cells in healthy cats
By Slovak, Jennifer E et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2019·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid and its effect on CD4and CD8T cells after oral administration of mycophenolate mofetil to healthy cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Ten healthy cats were given an immunosuppressant called mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to see how their bodies processed it and how it affected their immune cells. Some cats experienced side effects within a week, but the lowest dose of MMF (10 mg/kg every 12 hours) was tolerated by three of the cats. The study found that all cats converted MMF into its active form, mycophenolic acid, but the long-term safety and effectiveness of this treatment in cats remain unclear. If your cat is being considered for this medication, it's important to discuss potential side effects and monitoring with your veterinarian.
People also search for: cat immunosuppressant side effects · mycophenolate mofetil for cats · healthy cat medication safety
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an immunosuppressant used in human and veterinary medicine. Little pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic information on MMF is available in cats. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the plasma disposition of mycophenolic acid (MPA) and assess its effect on total peripheral blood mononuclear cells and CD4/CD8ratios after PO administration of MMF. ANIMALS: Healthy cats (n = 10). METHODS: Mycophenolate mofetil was administered at a dosage of 10 mg/kg q12h (n = 3), 15 mg/kg q12h (n = 3), and 15 mg/kg q8h (n = 4) for 7 days. Concentrations of MPA and derivatives were determined using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. Flow cytometry was used to assess CD4/CD8T-cell ratios. RESULTS: All cats biotransformed MMF into MPA. Half of the cats (5/10) had adverse effects within 1 week of MMF administration. Area under the curve limit of quantification (AUC) of MPA ranged from 1.27 to 2.03 hours·μg/mL and from 1.77 to 8.54 hours·μg/mL after the first and last PO dose of 10 mg/kg. The AUCof MPA ranged from 2.18 to 31 hours·μg/mL after the first dose of 15 mg/kg of MMF. Before the first dose of MMF, the average total number of PBMC ranged from 1.2 to 9.3 million/mL. At the last dose of MMF, the average total number of PBMC ranged from 3 to 5 million/mL. CONCLUSION: Mycophenolic acid was detected in all cats. The dose 10 mg/kg given q12h for 1 week was tolerated (n = 3). The efficacy of MMF as an immunosuppressant and long-term safety in cats of this dosage regimen is unknown.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31423655/