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» Veterinary Session
Veterinary sessionO'Shaughnessy, Niamh - year 6 University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Department of Internal Medicine Supervisor: Dr. Vizi Zsuzsanna Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a lethal disease in cats, resulting from a mutation of the feline coronavirus, occurring in approximately 1-2% of cases. FIP manifests in two forms: wet and dry, occasionally accompanied by neurological or ocular symptoms. Recently, pet owners have turned to GS-441524, an unapproved antiviral nucleoside analogue, to treat their FIP-afflicted cats, reporting remarkable outcomes. No legally available drugs have shown success in FIP treatment, but a significant issue is the lack of scientific documentation due to the sourcing of GS-441524 from illicit markets. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the use of unlicensed GS-441524-like treatment in cats suspected of having neurological and ocular FIP, a previously incurable ailment. An online survey was conducted among members of various large social media support groups and GS-441524-like drug distribution networks. The survey targeted individuals who had treated their cats with these unapproved drugs for a minimum of 84 days. Among the 230 surveys analysed, 190 met the inclusion criteria, with approximately 33% of therapy users residing in France, 28% in the United States, and 12% in both Hungary and Austria, along with smaller percentages from various other countries worldwide. A majority of respondents (around 87%) reported significant improvements in their cats' health within a week of starting the therapy. At the time of the survey, about 96% of cats were still alive, with approximately 61% considered cured and an additional 35% under observation during the 84-day period. A small portion (4%) experienced FIP symptom relapses, and the same percentage did not survive despite receiving GS-441524-like therapy. Complications were mainly associated with owner-administered subcutaneous injections of the acidic GS-441525-like therapy, leading to issues like pain, injection site injuries, and kidney damage. It's essential to acknowledge the limitations of this study, including reliance on owner-reported data alongside input from medical professionals and an inability to verify the composition of unapproved pharmaceuticals. Nevertheless, valuable insights can be gained from the experiences shared by these cat owners. Although unconventional and not without medical and legal risks, based on owner testimonials, at-home GS-441524-like therapy appears to offer potential benefits for cats suspected of having FIP. List of lectures |