From Mon, 16 Apr 2001; digest 131:
 
From this week's Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association:
 
Leuprolide acetate treatment of adrenocortical disease in ferrets
 
Effects of leuprolide acetate, a long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone
analog, in ferrets with adrenocortical diseases were evaluated.  Ferrets
were treated with leuprolide (100 Ug, IM, once) and plasma hormone
concentrations were measured before and 3 to 6 weeks after treatment.
 
Leuprolide treatment resulted in significant reduction in plasma estradiol,
17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone
concentrations and elminated or reduced clinical signs associated with
adrenocortical disease.  Decreases in vulvar swelling, pruuritus, and
undesirable sexual behavior and aggression were evident 14 dys after
treatment; hair regrowth was evident by 4 weeks after treatment.  The
response to treatment was transitory, however, and clinical signs recurred
in all ferrets.  Mean+/- SEM time to recurrence was 3.7 +/- 0.4 months
(range 1.5 to 8 months.) Results suggest that leuprolide can be safely
used to temporarily elminate clinical signs and reduce sex hormone
concentrations in ferrets with adrenocortical diseases.  However, the
safety of long-term leurpolide use in ferrets has not been investigated,
and the long-term effects of leuprolide in ferrets with nodular adrenal
gland hyperplasia or adrenal gland tumors are unknown - R.A Wagner et al.
(JAVMA 2001: 218:1272-1274.)
 
Please note that this article states that Lupron use in ferrets should be
restricted to temporary use, and that recurrence of clinical signs occurred
in all ferrets.  This is consistent with my feelings on the restriction of
this drug to non-surgical candidates.  Surgery is still the optimal way to
treat adrenal disease in ferrets.
 
Bruce Williams, DVM
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ferret-Health-list
[Posted in FML issue 3398]