Avaliação da biomarcadores de função hepática em cães sob uso crônico de fenobarbital

Abstract

Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder in small animal clinical practice, often requiring prolonged drug therapy. Among the therapeutic options, phenobarbital stands out as the first-choice and most widely used anticonvulsant due to its efficacy and low cost, although its hepatotoxic potential requires constant monitoring. This study evaluated the hepatotoxicity of chronic phenobarbital use in dogs through the analysis of liver function biomarkers. The sample consisted of eight epileptic dogs under continuous treatment for at least six months. Serum concentrations of albumin and bilirubins (total, direct, and indirect) were measured. The results indicated that bilirubin levels remained within the reference values for the species. Albumin levels were mostly normal, with only one isolated case of mild hypoalbuminemia. There was no significant statistical difference related to the duration of drug exposure. It is concluded that chronic use of phenobarbital did not promote relevant changes in the evaluated parameters, suggesting the maintenance of liver function in the animals studied under the conditions of this experiment.