Original article: Dr. Pedersen on Relapses and Post-GS Treatment; 14.8.2019
Is it possible that GS-441524 will lose its effectiveness, leading to relapses?
In particular, GS-441524 is extremely stable in the highly acidic solution used by its suppliers. We stored it in the fridge for months. The more likely reasons for relapses are inadequate treatment (poor injection, poor medicine), inability to get enough medicine in places with inflammation (such as the brain), or drug resistance (we saw this in 1 cat in both our GC376 and GS studies). -441524).
Are secondary infections such as toxoplasma or infectious anemia associated with relapse?
This is very unlikely for secondary infections that lead to relapse. Cats are the ultimate host for Toxoplasma gondii and the infection is rarely systemic. In fact, the systemic form is so unusual compared to FIP that there is no good clinical reason for its routine testing in cats suspected of having FIP. In addition, toxoplasmosis would be much more likely to occur in outdoor cats that hunt than in shelter or indoor cats that are fed commercial feed. Infectious feline anemia, which is caused by a common and largely overt blood infection with one or more types of hemotropic mycoplasma or hemoplasm, could break into clinical form upon immunosuppression by another infectious agent. However, I cannot recall the case of FIP, which was complicated by these organisms. However, feline leukemia virus, and not coronavirus, is strongly associated with hemotropic mycoplasma. Nevertheless, I suspect that this is one of the reasons why so many veterinarians include doxycycline in the cocktail of drugs they used to "treat" the FIP.
Should cats receive Virbagen omega after GS treatment to strengthen the immune system?
Published double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of feline interferon omega in FIP have shown that it has no therapeutic benefit. I also perceive this with other immunomodulators such as PI.
This virus is so ubiquitous, difficult to eliminate, and easily reinfected that I have come to the conclusion that attempting to eliminate it will be very costly and largely unproductive. Although it is possible to eliminate FECV in a small group of cats that are kept in strict isolation and by faecal testing, in reality it is easier said than done. In the end, even if you succeed with great effort and cost, what will you do then ?! The only way to maintain the situation is to observe an extremely strict quarantine of cats and people moving in and out of your premises, which greatly complicates the ability to maintain a functional shelter or rescue or kennel.
How useful is the AGP test to find out if my cat is cured?
The AGP test is popular in Europe, but I can't figure out why. The test measures what we call the "phase reactant" and is a measure of inflammation in the body. It is completely non-specific and has no added value compared to routine examinations, such as general health, weight loss, fever, abnormalities in white blood cell parameters, albumin and globulin levels, A: G ratio, etc.
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