Randomized blinded controlled trial of dipyrone as a treatment for pyrexia in horses.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of dipyrone to control pyrexia in horses with naturally occurring disease under field conditions. ANIMALS 138 horses with pyrexia and various infections evaluated at 14 veterinary sites in 12 states. PROCEDURES In the first (effectiveness) phase of this 2-phase study, horses were randomly assigned 3:1 to receive 1 dose of dipyrone (30 mg/kg [13.6 mg/lb], IV) or an equivalent amount of placebo. Effectiveness was defined as a decrease in rectal temperature ≥ 1.1°C (2°F), compared with the pretreatment value, or a rectal temperature of ≤ 38.3°C (101.0°F) 6 hours after treatment administration. Horses deemed to have an appropriate reduction in rectal temperature (regardless of treatment group) by 6 hours were immediately entered into the safety phase of the study, in which dipyrone was administered IV at 30 mg/kg between 0 and 8 times up to every 8 hours on an as-needed basis, as determined by the clinical investigators. Horses were monitored throughout for adverse events. RESULTS A significantly greater proportion of dipyrone-treated horses (76/99 [77%]) had an effective treatment response than did placebo-treated horses (6/31 [19%]). Posttreatment adverse events were mild and transient. No differences in types or prevalence of gastrointestinal adverse events were evident between treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Dipyrone was effective in controlling pyrexia by 6 hours after IV administration of a single 30-mg/kg dose in a large proportion of treated horses. Adverse effects were minimal.
Publication Date: 2019-02-26 PubMed ID: 30801213DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.80.3.294Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Clinical Trial
- Veterinary
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of dipyrone in treating pyrexia (fever), in horses affected by various diseases. The study found that dipyrone was effective in controlling pyrexia in a significant number of treated horses with minimal adverse effects.
Research Overview
- The randomized, controlled trial involved 138 horses from 14 veterinary sites across 12 states, all showing symptoms of pyrexia due to various infections. These were diseases that occurred naturally, demonstrating the ‘field conditions’ context of the study.
- The horses were chosen randomly to receive either dipyrone as a treatment or a placebo. The study was divided into two phases, including an effectiveness phase and a safety phase.
Study Design and Procedures
- In the first phase to measure effectiveness, a 3:1 ratio was used to assign horses to receive one dose of dipyrone or an equivalent amount of placebo.
- The measure of effectiveness was based on the dipyrone’s ability to achieve a specified decrease in the horse’s rectal temperature after treatment compared to pretreatment values. This also included a certain temperature threshold being attained six hours post-treatment.
- The horses showing suitable temperature reduction by the indicated time were then entered into the safety study phase. This involved administration of dipyrone on an ‘as-needed basis’, with adjustments made by clinical investigators.
- Through both phases of the study, the horses were closely monitored for any adverse effects.
Study Results and Conclusion
- The results revealed a significant disparity in the treatment response between horses treated with dipyrone and those given the placebo. Seventy-seven percent of dipyrone-treated horses showed an effective response, compared to only nineteen percent of the placebo-treated group.
- Any adversarial events that occurred post-treatment were mild and short-lived. The study found no discernible differences between the groups in terms of gastrointestinal adverse events.
- From these results, the study concludes that dipyrone was safe and highly effective at controlling pyrexia in horses, given a single dosage intravenously. The extent of adverse effects was minimal.
Cite This Article
APA
Morresey PR, White GW, Poole HM, Hu T, Yin M, Sundman EA.
(2019).
Randomized blinded controlled trial of dipyrone as a treatment for pyrexia in horses.
Am J Vet Res, 80(3), 294-299.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.80.3.294 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Administration, Oral
- Animals
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / administration & dosage
- Antipyretics / therapeutic use
- Dipyrone / administration & dosage
- Dipyrone / therapeutic use
- Female
- Fever / drug therapy
- Fever / veterinary
- Horses
- Male
- Random Allocation
- Time Factors
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Mercer MA, Davis JL, McKenzie HC. The Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutic Evaluation of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Adult Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 May 10;13(10).
- Araújo-Silva G, de Macêdo LB, Mouta AN, de Oliveira MGC, Arcoverde KN, Solon LGS, Perez-Urizar JT, de Paula VV. Tramadol and M1 Bioavailability Induced by Metamizole Co-Administration in Donkeys (Equus asinus). Animals (Basel) 2024 Mar 17;14(6).
- White JM, Colbath AC, Schott HC 2nd. Effects of phenylbutazone, firocoxib, and dipyrone on the diuretic response to furosemide in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Nov-Dec;37(6):2544-2551.
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