Feline Leukemia

[Lori]

Note to all newcomers!

     If you get the terrible diagnosis of FeLV the experimental drug LTCI may be able to help.  HOWEVER, it takes a few weeks to start noticing effects, the results are not instant!  You may need to stabilize your cat if it is terribly anemic with a blood transfusion before other treatments.  The LTCI takes time!  A few folks have loaded up their cats and rushed to see Dr. Burris which is okay, but speak to your own vet first about stabilizing them or even call Dr. Burris before you come.  Unfortunately, some cats have died in transport.  Blood transfusions have helped stabilize others so they can survive until the LTCI takes effect.  So please, STABILIZE first!  The LTCI can be used at any time even before the transfusion but it is important that folks know that stress can be fatal to a really sick animal so please be cautious.

Lori

Hello All,

I feel compelled to share my story with everyone that will listen. If your cat should get the horrible diagnosis of feline leukemia please do not euthanize them! There is a medicine that may save them. My cat was diagnosed with leukemia in March and I was told she would not live beyond three months. My Vet (Dr. Burris, Southern Oaks Animal Hospital) decided to try a new experimental drug called LTCI (lymphocyte T-cell immunomodulator). Well, she not only is still alive 4 months later but has gained 4 pounds, is happy and more importantly she is clinically perfectly healthy. Yes, all her bloodwork is equivalent to a healthy normal cat. I am very skeptical / cynical of anything that promises miracle cures but this has been one for us. I have my dear cat and she is loving and playful again. Thanks to Dr. Burris and the makers of LTCI. As a side note I must say that no one else that I contacted (Vet school, clinics in Florida and Ohio) had any hope for her survival. Dr. Burris is my HERO. Please look into this if your baby gets sick, you really don't have to say goodbye.

Lori

[April]

Amazing!!!!!

[Erin M. Tucker, RVT]

Just a note...this is not a "cure" to Feline Leukemia. It is used as a "treatment aid" to help prolong the life of the cat...it may work in some, but not in others. It is also very important to remember that FeLV positive cats need to not be let outside, nor to interact with other cats, or the potential for the virus to spread (primarily through the saliva, but also through urine, feces, etc) is very real. Feline Leukemia is also linked to certain types of cancers within the infected cat itself.

I think it is wonderful that you are having good luck with this new medication! The owners of infected cats just need to be aware of what they are facing, and need to weigh the risks of having an FeLV positive cat in their household.

[Lori]

Hello Erin,
Thanks for your wonderful input. Indeed, the infected cat will be shedding virus as you say and should be isolated from other cats. However, if it has been living with other cats they have probably already resisted the virus or it has become latent, I have not separated my cat from her two sisters as they have been together every day for their 3 years of life and they are FeLV negative (she was traumatized and stressed when we did try to separate them). The FeLV virus is very unstable outside of its host and will die within a few hours (it may live a bit longer in moist areas such as litter box). I was really skeptical about the word 'cure' for the use of LTCI too as I am in the sciences by trade (Molecular Biologist). Natural immunomodulators will actually potentiate or speed up viral production, but LTCI is a synthetic product so I decided to give it a try. When my cat first was diagnosed I read many papers on Feline Leukemia (PubMed is a repository for scientific peer reviewed papers for those who have access and would like to learn more), and I found a wonderful paper on disease progression for feline leukemia. The authors wanted to use cats as a study for AID's drug trials (Feline leukemia is also a retrovirus) and the paper goes into detail what happens to a cat as the disease progresses. Mainly a few blood values are key: Mean Corpuscular Volume MCV, MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin), hematocrit, and CD4/CD8 ratios are all key indicator of the advancing disease. When Charley (my cat) was first diagnosed she was down to 8 pounds, her hematocrit was 16.2 (borderline for blood transfusion), her MCH and MCV values were significantly high, and her CD4 levels were high and her CD8 levels were low. (Note to layman: CD8 cells are the cells that attack and kill infected cells while CD4 cells begins the signaling to the CD8 and macrophages to attack infected cells. It is also known that HIV1 a retrovirus and like the Feline leukemia virus attacks the CD4 cell). Currently Charley's hematocrit is 33 (normal) and her MCV and MCH levels are back to normal. Also, her CD4 levels have gone down and her CD8 levels increased. She has also gained weight and is over 11 pounds now. I will be happy to allow anyone access to my veterinary records in regards to this if they are interested in looking at the test results.
As with any treatment including those used on humans some drugs may work better on some while others are not effected. However, I am in contact with another pet owner who is treating their cat for feline leukemia and he is still alive and well a year after beginning treatment. It is my hope that Charley will seroconvert soon (destroy all viral particles in her body and not express the antigen p27). The manufacturers of LTCI state that they do not know the long term effects of this medicine but as for me, my cat has outlived her diagnosis and has an excellent quality of life. I would definitely recommend this treatment to anyone facing an otherwise rapid decline and death of their pet. Indeed, another cat diagnosed close to the same time as my Charley was treated with standard supportive care and had to be euthanized about 2 months ago. I am a firm believer in releasing my pet if they are in pain or their quality of life is reduced but Charley is completely healthy and bullying her sisters. Good luck to all of you in the same position, just please don't give up before you try something like LTCI (there are also other treatments but this one worked beautifully).

[Erin M. Tucker, RVT]

It sounds like you have done alot of research and have shared it with others! : ) I'm a Licensed Veterinary Technician, so I am also very familiar with the diagnostics you have mentioned.

I am also glad to hear Charley is doing well, and I wish you all the best of luck and many happy years with her. It sounds like she is a very lucky kitty to have a wonderful and caring cat-mom like you! : )

[Lori]

Hello Erin,

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. You must be the sites resident professional! It is comforting to have an experienced Vet Tech to ensure the blogs don't get out of control and nutty with wrong advice. I can tell you must be very good at what you do...you have to be if you love animals so much. Thanks for your feedback and I look forward to more of your blogs.

Regards,

Lori

[randy salmon]

Lori, my cat has just been diagnosed w/felv and I'm searching for help when I found ur blog..sounds like LTCI worked well for u but my vet never heard of it...how much does it cost and what's ur vets info? I will gladly drive the 2hrs down there to save sparky,but I'm unemployed so cost is a factor..thanks for an help...u can email me if u don't want this info [e-mail]...

[Lori]

Hello Randy,

I am terribly sorry to hear about your cat. You really don't need to travel anywhere special...simply have your vet order the LTCI from ProLabs. It is normally $65 dollars a dose but I think they have several free offers available. For example...one offer that I read about is that they will provide you with 6 free doses if you give them the blood work data from your cat. I pasted it below. My cat responded immediately to the treatment but to keep the cat healthy he / she will need to be on it longer than 6 doses but hopefully by then you will be back on your feet job wise. Your vet may work with you on the cost of the bloodwork so do speak with them about it....ours cost $23 and is done each time the LTCI is given. There is a loading dose for 3 weeks then it is given every other week. Also check with the company you are buying the doses from because sometimes they have doses that are withing months of expiration and you can get them half price. If you would like to have your vet speak with mine simply send me their contact information and I will have her call them. Good luck and let us know how your baby is faring.

FELINE (FeLV and FIV) - Diagnostic Evaluations (ELISA and PCR Analysis)
Using specific diagnostics, this study will evaluate cats with FIV (feline AIDS, cat AIDS) to deterimine if viral status changes before and after treatment.
Status: Inquire with IMULAN at [e-mail]
Population: Cats (with or without symptoms)
Design: Open label field study; IMULAN provides free LTCI (6 doses per patient)
Treatment: SQ injections on a weekly basis for 6 weeks
General Inclusion: ELISA Antibody/Antigen and PCR positive status
General Exclusion: Cats receiving other immune modulators besides LTCI
Test Material Description (LTCI; Lymphocyte T-Cell Immunomodulator)
FIV Study Documents:
CLICK the following for: VETERINARY BROCHURE
INSERT
LTCI PUBLICATION

For patients that don't qualify for the FIV Study, LTCI may be ordered from IMULAN BioTherapeutics, LLC.

[Joanne C]

Hi Lori,

My cat Gus receives an LTCI shot every two weeks. The LTCI is terrific, the problem is the cost. Each injection is $130. I want to continue Gus' treatment; however, the cost is extremely high. Originally the charge was $100 and then it jumped to $130. According to my Vet he is only charging me the cost of the injection, no markup.

I know LTCI is available via Prolabs and within Prolabs there are several different distributors, i.e. IVESCO, Butler, DVM Resources, Webster Veterinary etc.....

If possible please advise which Prolabs distributor your vet uses.

Thanks Lori, any information you provide will be much appreciated.

Regards,
Joanne C

[Lori]

Hello Joanne,

I think you are getting way overcharged. My vet gets 10 doses at a time for $650 (which equates to $65 dollars a shot and she doesn't charge me to give the shot). I have also started to ask her to check with them before buying full price to see if they have any specials. Sometimes they will sell doses for half price if they will expire within so many months. If I am going to use them before the expiration date then I have no problem getting them. I have to swing by my vet tonight so I will ask her where she gets my doses from. I don't blame you a bit, that is terribly high! If your vet still overcharges, if you are close enough, go to Southern Oaks Animal Hospital in Hope Mills NC. I am not sure if you are in the Fayetteville area but if you are this is a great clinic (although very busy). I will send you more info when I get it.

Regards,

Lori

[Joanne C]

Hi Lori,

Thank you for getting back to me.

Unfortunately I live in North NJ (Paramus), not NC, otherwise I would try the Southern Oaks Animal Hospital!

The LTCI really works. Gus began receiving his injections in March of 2009, and thankfully the medication is working! I was thinking of extending his injections to every 3 weeks, but decided against it since his appetite wanes (slightly) right around the 2 week mark.

I'm beginning to think the Prolab distributors might be charging different prices for the medications. If this is the case I will ask my Vet to contact another Prolab distributor for the LTCI or find a Vet who will charge me less for the LTCI.

I really, really appreciate you checking with your Vet!

Best regards,
Joanne

[Lori]

Hello Joanne,

Well, I am sure commuting is out. I asked my vet last night but there was so much going on that she didn't get a chance to get the info to me. I will go back tonight and get it from the office aid if she is too busy. We tried going to 3 weeks because Charley is doing so well and suddenly her blood work started to tank. Her hematocrit went down and her other values started to spike. We are reloading her (weekly) and will probably stay with the 2 week interval as that seems to work best for her. Another owner who has had her cat on LTCI for well over a year says she gives it every other week. I am not sure if she has her cat tested regularly. I had hoped that the kitties would stabilize and not need the medicine but who knows. One thing though, Charley is still negative for the virus. Perhaps their bone marrow is damaged by the disease and needs the immunomodulator as a crutch. It is a new medicine and there is much to be learned yet. The key point is our babies are alive, well, and very happy. I will send you the info as soon as I get it. Hugs to your furry friend.

Lori

[Lori]

Hello Joanne,

I finally received the information that you wanted. We get ours from AgriLabs who state that they are the only 'authorized distributor'. Our office manager is going to do some research to see if that is true, but do check with them when you are going to purchase as they are much less expensive than your other quotes. Good luck and I hope all is well with Gus.

Lori