Lamminen Terttu, Korpivaara Mira, Suokko Minna, Aspegrén John, Palestrini Clara, Overall Karen
Orion Pharma, R&D, Espoo, Finland.
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Front Vet Sci. 2021 Sep 1;8:711816. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.711816. eCollection 2021.
The aim of this clinical pilot study was to evaluate the dosage, efficacy, and clinical safety of a single oral dose of pregabalin in cats that experience fear and anxiety when placed into a carrier and transported by car. Thirteen client-owned cats were enrolled in a blinded, randomized, crossover study with three treatment days approximately 1 week apart. The cats were assigned to receive pregabalin oral solution at dosages of 5 and 10 mg/kg and placebo in a randomized order, one treatment per week. Treatment was administered ~90 min before placing the cat into a carrier and starting transportation. Efficacy was assessed by the owners using a categorical scale and, based on video recordings, by an external observer, both blinded to the treatment. Owners assessed that cats given pregabalin displayed less vocalization, restlessness, and panting during transportation than did cats given placebo. Correlation between owners' and external observer's assessment of the overall treatment effect was good (0.63, < 0.01), which confirms the owners' ability to observe reliably their own cat's behavior. Transient mild ataxia was the most common adverse event reported. The human commercial formulation used in this study was found difficult or very difficult to administer by 79% of the owners. Based on results of this pilot study, a single oral dose of pregabalin was well tolerated and decreased signs of anxiety and fear associated with car transportation in cats, as evaluated by blinded owners and external observer. The use of pregabalin prior to traveling may improve cat welfare and compliance for transportation. Further studies are needed to investigate the use of oral pregabalin in cats to alleviate signs of anxiety and fear associated with transportation and sequelae, like veterinary visits, and to develop a more user-friendly formulation.
本临床初步研究的目的是评估单次口服普瑞巴林对被放入猫笼并乘车运输时出现恐惧和焦虑的猫的剂量、疗效及临床安全性。13只客户拥有的猫参与了一项双盲、随机、交叉研究，三个治疗日间隔约1周。猫被随机分配，按5和10mg/kg的剂量接受普瑞巴林口服溶液及安慰剂治疗，每周一种治疗。在将猫放入猫笼并开始运输前约90分钟给药。疗效由主人使用分类量表评估，且基于视频记录由一名外部观察者评估，二者均对治疗不知情。主人评估发现，与给予安慰剂的猫相比，给予普瑞巴林的猫在运输过程中发出的叫声、躁动及喘气更少。主人与外部观察者对总体治疗效果的评估之间相关性良好（0.63，<0.01），这证实了主人可靠观察自家猫行为的能力。短暂性轻度共济失调是报告的最常见不良事件。本研究中使用的人用市售制剂被79%的主人认为难以或非常难以给药。基于本初步研究结果，单次口服普瑞巴林耐受性良好，可减轻猫与乘车运输相关的焦虑和恐惧迹象，这是由不知情的主人和外部观察者评估得出的。旅行前使用普瑞巴林可能会改善猫的福利及运输依从性。需要进一步研究来调查口服普瑞巴林在猫身上的使用情况，以减轻与运输及后遗症（如兽医就诊）相关的焦虑和恐惧迹象，并开发更便于使用的制剂。
