STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RALTEGRAVIR (ISENTRESS, MSD, USA) IN REGENERATIVE ANEMIA ASSOCIATED WITH VIRAL LEUKEMIA IN CATS

The leukemia virus is widespread in the population of domestic cats and, despite the study of this disease, there is no effective therapy aimed at complete eradication of the virus from the body of an infected animal. One of the most life-threatening conditions associated with the frequent death and euthanasia of infected animals is anemia. This retrospective study is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the drug “Isentress” (MSD, USA) with the active substance Raltegravir against regenerative anemia associated with feline viral leukemia. In the group of animals receiving this drug, a decrease in the concentration of the virus in the blood was recorded, as well as an improvement in the hematological parameters of red blood. Hematological indicators and the concentration of the virus showed positive dynamics in one of the cats in the group of animals that did not take Raltegravir, but the connection with the owner of this animal was lost, which does not allow us to draw final conclusions about the nature of these laboratory phenomena. The viral load increased when the drug was discontinued, which characterizes the need for lifelong administration of Raltegravir. There were no side effects requiring withdrawal of the drug. The only registered side effect was lethargy in one of the infected cats, but it was not possible to associate apathy with taking the drug due to the presence of hematological abnormalities associated with severe anemia in the animal at the time of the side effect. Raltegravir has shown efficacy and safety when taken in cats with regenerative anemia associated with feline viral leukemia, however, further studies are required to assess the safety of the drug when taken for a long time in infected cats.