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Thread: ACTH Response (stimulation) testing for monitoring Cushing's therapy

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
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    Default ACTH Response (stimulation) testing for monitoring Cushing's therapy

    http://www.showdog-magazine.com/medical/cushings.htm

    GENERAL GUILDELINES FOR ACTH RESPONSE TESTING

    1. Monitoring Lysodren therapy: ACTH stimulation testing is recommended after the initial induction period (7-10 d of daily Lysodren). If additional induction phases are required, an ACTH stimulation should be done at the end of each phase. Once the dog is on maintenance, an ACTH stimulation should be done 3 months and 6 months later. Periodic retests at 6 month intervals are recommended, if the patient is responding well to treatment (earlier if not).

    2. Monitoring ketoconazole therapy: The initial dose of ketoconazole is 5 mg/kg bid for 7 days. If there are no adverse effects, the dose is increased to 10 mg/kg bid and an ACTH stimulation should be done after 14 days. If cortisol levels are not within the ideal range, the dose should be increased to 15 mg/kg and an ACTH stimulation again done after 14 additional days. The ACTH stimulation test should begin within 1-3 hours of the last dose of ketoconazole.

    3. "Ideal" values: in a Cushings dog receiving either Lysodren or ketoconazole are pre-ACTH cortisol, 30-100 nmol/L and post-ACTH cortisol, 30-110 nmol/L. In other words, we like to see measurable cortisol levels which do not rise above 110 nmol/L after ACTH.
    Interpretation of specific results with the ACTH stimulation test during therapy with Lysodren

    At completion of induction therapy (daily loading therapy):

    1. If both cortisols (pre and post ACTH) are between 30 and 110 nmol/L, go to maintenance therapy.

    2. If both cortisols (pre and post ACTH) are above 110 nmol/L, continue daily Lysodren and repeat ACTH stimulation in 5 days. Continue daily therapy until cortisols are between 30 and 110 nmol/L.

    3. If both cortisols (pre and post ACTH) are below 30 nmol/L, stop Lysodren, wait 3 weeks, retest with ACTH stimulation and start maintenance when cortisols increase into 30-110 nmol/L range. Dog may require glucocorticoid supplementation, especially if stressed. Also, monitor Na/K to see if Addisons is present.

    During maintenance therapy:

    1. If both cortisols (pre and post ACTH) are between 30 and 110 nmol/L, continue as is.

    2. If both cortisols (pre and post ACTH) are below 30 nmol/L, stop Lysodren, retest with ACTH stimulation at 3-4 week intervals until cortisols increase into 30-110 nmol/L range, then resume maintenance. Dog may require glucocorticoid supplementation, especially if stressed. Also, monitor Na/K to see if Addisons is present.

    3. If both cortisols (pre and post ACTH) are well above 110 nmol/L, re-initiate loading Lysodren at 50 mg/kg on a daily basis for 5 days. Retest with ACTH stimulation after 5 days to see if cortisols have dropped, and continue daily Lysodren until they do. Once cortisols are between 30 and 110 nmol/L, restart weekly maintenance at a dose 50% above that used previously.

    4. If both cortisols (pre and post ACTH) are slightly above 110 nmol/L, increase weekly Lysodren dose by 25% and retest with ACTH stimulation in 4-6 weeks.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    139

    Default Re: ACTH Response (stimulation) testing for monitoring Cushing's therapy

    The "article" on the website posted above is actually copied from the website of the Endocrine Diagnostic Services of Auburn University.

    (see links or the attached file below, for the updated pdf file which is posted on Auburn's website page)

    http://web.archive.org/web/200609041...mendations.pdf

    (or http://www.vetmed.auburn.edu/media/a...mendations.pdf )

    Auburn Endocrine Diagnostic Service
    ACTH Response Testing in Dogs with Cushing’s Disease

    Periodic ACTH response testing is recommended in all dogs with Cushing’s disease treated with either lysodren or ketoconazole.

    General guidelines for ACTH Response Testing:

    1. ACTH response testing is recommended after the initial induction period (7-10 days of daily lysodren), then 3 months, and 6 months later. Periodic retests at 6 months intervals are recommended, if the patient is responding well to treatment (earlier if not).

    2. “Ideal” values in a Cushing’s dog receiving either lysodren or ketoconazole are pre-ACTH cortisol, 30-110 nmol/L; post-ACTH cortisol, 30-110 nmol/L. In other words, we like to see measurable cortisol levels which do not rise above 110 nmol/L after ACTH.

    Interpretation of Specific Results With the ACTH Response Test (circled number indicates recommendation).

    At completion of induction therapy (daily loading therapy):

    1. Both cortisols are between 30-110 nmol/L; go to maintenance therapy.

    2. Cortisols are above 110 nmol/L; continue daily lysodren and repeat ACTH response in 5 days. Continue daily therapy until cortisols are between 30-110.

    *3. Cortisols are below 30 nmol/L; stop lysodren, wait 3 weeks, retest with ACTH, start maintenance lysodren when cortisols increase into 30-110 nmol/L range.

    During maintenance therapy:

    1. Cortisols are between 30-110 nmol/L; continue as is.

    *2. Cortisols are below 30 nmol/L; stop lysodren, retest with ACTH at 3-4 week intervals until cortisols increase to 30-110 nmol/L range, then resume maintenance.

    3. Cortisols well above 110 nmol/L; re-initiate loading lysodren at 50 mg/kg on a daily basis for 5 days. Retest with ACTH after 5 days to see if cortisols have dropped, and continue daily lysodren until they do. Once cortisols have dropped into “ideal” range, restart maintenance (weekly) therapy, but increase dose 50% above that used
    previously.

    4. Cortisols only slightly above 30-110 nmol/L; increase weekly lysodren dose by 25%, retest with ACTH in 4-6 weeks.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    *Dog may require glucocorticoid supplement, especially if stressed. Also, monitor Na/K to see if Addison’s has occurred.
    Please note: The values of measurement used in the above quote (nmol/L) are the units used in Canada and the UK and in most other countries in the world, but for the folks in the USA and any other countries where the ACTH stim test results are given in ug/dl values, here's how to convert nmol/L to ug/dl:

    Simply divide nmol/L by 27.59 and that gives you the value in ug/dl

    examples:

    30 nmol/L = 1.09 ug/dl

    110 nmol/L = 3.99 ug/dl
    Attached Files Attached Files

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