Clinical and histological evaluation of an analogue of palmitoylethanolamide, PLR 120 (comicronized Palmidrol INN) in cats with eosinophilic granuloma and eosinophilic plaque: a pilot study

Fifteen cats with eosinophilic granuloma or eosinophilic plaque were given PLR 120 at the dosage of 10 mg kg(-1) twice daily for one month. PLR-120 do wn-modulates mast cell degranulation via a receptor-mediated mechanism. No other drugs were permitted and cats were kept free of parasites throughout the study. A clinical evaluation and skin biopsies were performed before an d after the treatment. Clinical improvement was assessed at 15 and 30 days. Mast cell numbers were counted and their granular content was assessed by densitometric analysis on toluidine blue-stained sections before and after the treatment. Ten of 15 (67%) cats showed clinical improvement of signs an d lesions. There was no significant difference between mast cell numbers in skin biopsies taken before and after the trial, whereas the number of gran ules was significantly increased (P < 0.009). This pilot study suggests tha t PLR-120 might be a useful drug for the treatment of eosinophilic granulom a and eosinophilic plaque.