Comparative efficacy of flunixin, ketoprofen, and ketorolac for treating endotoxemic neonatal calves.

Saline (0.9% NaCl) solution or 1 of 3 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) was administered i.v. to 5 neonatal calves 15 minutes after the start of a 3-hour i.v. infusion of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 2 micrograms/kg/h). Four additional calves were given a 3-hour i.v. infusion of saline solution alone. Clinical attitude, mean arterial blood pressure, PCV, WBC, and plasma lactate, glucose, and eicosanoid concentrations (thromboxane B2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha) were monitored for 12 hours. Flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg of body weight, i.v.), ketoprofen (2.2 mg/kg, i.v.), and ketorolac tromethamine (1.1 mg/kg, i.v.) each ameliorated the clinical signs of endotoxemia and LPS-induced lacticemia, but failed to significantly alter the degree of leukopenia or hypoglycemia associated with infusion of LPS. Although the 3 NSAID prevented eicosanoid production, they provided only partial protection against LPS-induced hypotension. Each NSAID modified the response to LPS, but none was clearly superior to the others in modulating the clinical signs or physiologic alterations induced by infusion of LPS in neonatal calves.