TREATMENT OF PYOMETRA (CYSTIC ENDOMETRIAL HYPERPLASIA) IN BITCHES WITH AN ANTIPROGESTIN

On the basis of a previous study showing the effectiveness of an antip rogestin treatment on the involution of the pyometric uterus and gener al health of bitches, in the present open clinical study seven bitches with pyometra and progesterone concentrations 22 ng ml(-1) were treat ed with the antiprogestin RU 46534. The dose selected was 5 or 6 mg kg (-1) body mass s.c., on the first day of treatment and 3 mg kg(-1) bod y mass on days 2, 3, 4, 8, 12 and 16. Antibiotics were administered un til day 16. A vulval discharge was observed within 12-24 h. In one bit ch the dose of the antiprogestin had to be increased after day 4. In s ix bitches the uterine lumen became ultrasonographically undetectable between days 8 to 12; in one bitch some luminal material could still b e detected on day 28. The number of blood leucocytes tended to increas e after the onset of treatment but had returned to the upper normal ra nge by day 16. In all dogs general condition and feed consumption impr oved rapidly and were normal within 8 days. No side effects were noted . Two of the dogs were mated subsequently and produced two healthy lit ters. These observations confirm those of a preceding study and show t hat the treatment of pyometra with an antiprogestin may lead to a clin ical recovery. These results justify further studies to enable the opt imum treatment regimen to be established.