What are the treatment options for canine histiocytic diseases and where can my vet find information on this topic?
Reactive histiocytic disease – cutaneous and systemic histiocytosis – treatment when indicated usually begins with corticosteroids, but many dogs do not respond (only about 10% in our series). More potent systemic immunosuppression is then required. We have used Cyclosporin A (Sandimmune or Neoral) or Leflunomide (Arava) by oral administration. These drugs are well tolerated, but they are expensive – especially Leflunomide, which is the drug of choice ($1000 to $3000 per month depending on the dog’s weight and drug metabolism). We find that Cyclosporin A eyedrops (Optimmune) must often be used in conjunction with systemic therapy to control the eye lesions. Information on the use of these and other immunosuppressive drugs is available in Current Veterinary Therapy XIII, WB Saunders, 2000. Neoplastic histiocytic disease – Cutaneous histiocytoma is largely benign and with rare exceptions, surgical excision is usually curative. Localized histiocytic sarcoma can be cured by excision prior
