Introduction Corticosteroids are the most effective drugs for equine asthma, but their systemic and inhalant use is associated with potential side effects, as they induce cortisol suppression.1–3 Ciclesonide has a low oral bioavailability, and a low affinity for glucocorticoid receptors while in its inactive form, which increases 100 times after activation in the lungs.4 Due to this favorable profile, ciclesonide might be a valuable drug for the treatment of horses with asthma. 2. Materials and Methods Using a crossover placebo controlled, blinded, randomized design, 16 horses with severe equine asthma in exacerbation of the disease were enrolled in three dose-titration studies (8 horses/study). The effects of different doses of inhaled ciclesonide administered for a 2-week period on clinical scores, lung function, and serum cortisol were investigated. Systemic dexamethasone served as a positive control and placebo as a negative control. 3. Results Both ciclesonide and dexamethasone significantly improved clinical scores, pulmonary resistance, and pulmonary elastance after 7 days of treatment. Serum cortisol suppression occurred with dexamethasone from day 3 of treatment up to day 3 post-treatment, but not with ciclesonide at any tested doses. 4. Conclusions It can be concluded that inhaled ciclesonide was safe and effective for enrolled horses with severe.
Jean-Pierre Lavoie, DMV; Mathilde Leclere, DMV, PhD*; Michela Bullone, DMV, PhD; Natalia Rodrigues, BMV, MSc; Pamela Germim, BMV, MSc; Balazs Albrecht, DVM, PhD; and Marcella von Salis-Soglio, DVM Inhaled ciclesonide was safe and effective for enrolled horses with severe asthma in a moldy hay challenge model. Authors’ addresses: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universite´ de Montre´al, 3200 rue Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, J2S 2M2, QC, Canada (Lavoie, Leclere, Bullone, Rodgrigues, Germim); Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, Binger Strasse 173, 55216 Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany (Albrecht, von Salis-Soglio);