Use of corticosteroids for treating dogs with airway obstruction secondaryto hilar lymphadenopathy caused by chronic histoplasmosis: 16 cases (1979-1997)

Objective-To examine use of corticosteroids in treating dogs with airway ob struction secondary to hilar lymphadenopathy caused by chronic histoplasmos is. Design-Retrospective study. Animals-16 dogs. Procedure-Records for dogs with airway obstruction examined from January 19 79 through December 1997 were reviewed. Dogs were included in the study if they had hilar lymphadenopathy documented radiographically and bronchoscopi cally, had serum antibodies against Histoplasma capsulatum, and did not hav e organisms in any cytologic or histologic samples. Dogs were assigned to g roups on the basis of treatment given (5 dogs, corticosteroids only; 5 dogs , corticosteroids and antifungal medication; 6 dogs, antifungal medication only). Results-Clinical signs resolved in <1 week in dogs treated only with cortic osteroids. In dogs treated with corticosteroids and an antifungal medicatio n, improvement was evident in a mean of 2.6 weeks. In 5 of 6 dogs treated w ith only an antifungal medication, clinical signs resolved in a mean of 8.8 weeks. Dogs receiving corticosteroids did not develop active or disseminat ed histoplasmosis. Clinical Implications-Corticosteroids can be used successfully in the treat ment of dogs with hilar lymphadenopathy secondary to histoplasmosis. Affect ed dogs must be carefully evaluated for active infection. Specimens obtaine d by means of bronchoalveolar lavage, tracheal washing, or other methods sh ould be examined to exclude the possibility of an active infection, which c ould result in corticosteroid-induced dissemination of disease.