AVA Conference Brisbane 2018

Prednisolone is a very effective immune suppressive drug, with rapid onset of action at an attractive price. However, the effect of corticosteroids is not specific to the immune system and for this reason several adverse effects can be seen. This is especially an important consideration when treating diseases for which immune suppression is expected to be needed for several months to achieve a durable clinical response. For this reason, several other immune suppressive drugs have been used commonly in conjunction with steroids such as azathioprine, cyclosporine, and chlorambucil as steroid sparing drugs. Chlorambucil and cyclosporine can also be used as sole agent in animals where prednisolone is contra-indicated: for example, to treat a cat that has developed diabetes while treated with steroids. We will review what evidence is available to use of these drugs in different diseases and get more familiar with newer immune suppressive drugs such as mycophenolate and leflunomide. At the end of this discussion, you should feel comfortable to use these drugs in your busy every day caseload.