Comparison of intramuscular and oral administration of methylprednisolone on Hemodynamic and Biochemical parameters in cats

The present study was conducted to compare the effect of methylprednisolone administration by two intramuscular injection and oral methods on liver enzymes and hemodynamic factors. This study was a multi-group clinical trial conducted on 15 healthy domestic short-haired cats. The samples were randomly divided into 3 control groups (receive 5 cc of distilled water), oral prednisolone (5 mg/kg) and intramuscular injection prednisolone (5 mg/kg). Hemodynamic factors (heart rate, breathing and body temperature) before drug administration and after 10, 30 and 60 minutes and liver biochemical factors (ALP, AST and ALT) before drug administration and 24, 48 hours after that were measured. Changes in body temperature were not statistically significant in any of the groups. However, the changes in the respiratory rate in the oral prednisolone group (P=0.007) and the intramuscular injection group (P=0.04) were significantly difference. Changes in mean heart rate (P=0.007), ALT (P<0.005) and ALP (P=0.009) were significant difference in the intramuscular injection group. Moreover, AST level was significant difference in oral prednisolone group (P=0.003) and intramuscular injection group (P=0.04). The results of this study revealed that the administration of prednisolone at a dose of 5 mg/kg both orally and by intramuscular injection can lead to changes in the level of liver enzymes, heart and respiratory rate in the short term. The amount of these changes was higher in intramuscular injection method in compare to oral method. Therefore, in order to use this medicine, it is better to use the oral form, although the patient's vital factors must be carefully checked.