Kook PH, Melliger RH, Hersberger M. Efficacy of intramuscular hydroxocobalamin supplementation in cats with cobalamin deficiency and gastrointestinal disease.
J Vet Intern Med 2020;
34:1872-1878. [PMID:
32815652 PMCID:
PMC7517839 DOI:
10.1111/jvim.15865]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
In humans, absorption and tissue retention rates of intramuscularly administered hydroxocobalamin (OH‐Cbl) are superior compared to cyanocobalamin (CN‐Cbl). Supplementation with OH‐Cbl has not been described in cats.
Objectives
To evaluate effects of parenteral OH‐Cbl supplementation on clinical signs, serum Cbl and methylmalonic acid (MMA) concentrations in hypocobalaminemic cats with gastrointestinal disease.
Animals
Twenty‐three client‐owned cats.
Methods
Prospective study. Serum Cbl and MMA concentrations were determined at enrollment (t0), immediately before the 4th OH‐Cbl IM injection (300 μg, given q2 weeks) (t1), and 4 weeks after the 4th injection (t2). Severity of clinical signs (activity, appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, body weight) was graded at each time point and expressed as clinical disease activity score.
Results
Median clinical disease activity score decreased significantly from t0 (6; range, 2‐10) to t1 (1; range, 0‐6) and t2 (1; range, 0‐9). Median serum Cbl concentration increased significantly from 111 pmol/L (range, 111‐218; reference range, 225‐1451 pmol/L) at t0 to 1612 pmol/L (range, 526‐14 756) (P < .001) at t1, and decreased again significantly to 712 pmol/L (range, 205‐4265) (P < .01) at t2. Median baseline serum MMA concentration at t0 (802 nmol/L; range, 238‐151 000; reference range, 120‐420 nmol/L) decreased significantly (P < .001) to 199 nmol/L (range, 29‐478) at t1, and was 205 nmol/L (range, 88‐734) at t2. Serum MMA concentrations normalized in 22/23 cats at t1, and were not significantly higher at t2 compared to t1.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
The herein described OH‐Cbl injection scheme appears efficacious for normalization of cellular Cbl deficiency in cats with gastrointestinal disease.
Collapse