A Semiquantitative Method to Evaluate Drug-Induced Juvenile Arthropathy in the Canine

Abstract

In order to evaluate the arthropathogenic properties of some antibacterial agents, groups of juvenile Beagle dogs received orally either 500 mg/kg of oxolinic acid, 100 mg/kg of oxolinic acid or 500 mg/kg of pipemidic acid. Arthropathic lesions were characterized by articular cartilage vesiculations and erosions which developed in the treated groups. The severity of cartilage damage was graded in each articular surface and an arthropathic index for each group was calculated from these severity scores. The results concerning the evaluation of lesion incidence and severity demonstrated that the toxic effect of oxolinic acid on articular cartilage was dose dependent and that pipemidic acid had a greater arthropathic potential than oxolinic acid.