Cushing's disease in dogs: cabergoline treatment

Res Vet Sci. 2008 Aug;85(1):26-34. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2007.08.009. Epub 2007 Oct 29.

Abstract

The treatment of pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) in dogs has for a long time been focused on inhibiting the adrenal gland using drugs such as o-p'-DDD, Ketoconazole and Trilostane, without attacking the primary cause: the corticotrophinoma. Corticotroph cells can express the D2 dopaminergic receptor; therefore cabergoline (Cbg) could be effective as a treatment. Follow-up over 4 years was carried out in 40 dogs with PDH that were treated with Cbg (0.07 mg/kg/week. Out of the 40 dogs, 17 responded to Cbg (42.5%). A year after the treatment, there was a significant decrease in ACTH (p<0.0001), alpha-MSH (p<0.01), urinary cortisol/creatinine ratio (p<0.001), and of the tumor size (p<0.0001) evaluated by nuclear magnetic resonance. Dogs responding to Cbg lived significantly longer (p<0.001) than those in the control group. To conclude, Cbg is useful in 42.5% of dogs with PDH, justifying its use as a treatment.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cabergoline
  • Dog Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Dogs
  • Dopamine Agonists / therapeutic use*
  • Ergolines / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Ketoconazole / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion / drug therapy
  • Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion / veterinary*
  • Time Factors
  • alpha-MSH / metabolism

Substances

  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Ergolines
  • alpha-MSH
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • Cabergoline
  • Ketoconazole