Hi:

Just looking for input on a possible treatment for one of my dogs, Leisa,
with severe DJD/osteoarthritis. In several countries, most notably
Australia, a product called Cartrophen seems to be in fairly wide use,
with good results. (To avoid a common confusion, that's carTrophen, _not_
carProfen (Rimadyl), which is an NSAID similar to ibuprofen). Its generic
name is pentosan polysulphate, it seems to be quite similar to
glycosaminoglycan polysulphate, but with a somewhat different potential
effect on coagulation that is relevant in Leisa's case. It looks like it
might be a good additive to her current meloxicam, but unfortunately it is
not licensed in the US for this use. In Australia it is available in oral
and injectable forms, although the injectable seems to be in widest use.

There is a version of this compound licensed in the US (for interstitial
cystitis in humans), which is available as Elmiron (sodium pentosan
polysulphate). That is the same chemical as the Australian injectable
product, but it appears that the oral form sold there is calcium pentosan
polysulphate.

My question is this: Should this oral form of sodium pentosan
polysulphate, the only one locally available, be expected to be similar in
effectiveness to the Australian injectable or (calcium) oral forms? And
does anyone have experience with this off-label use of the Elmiron
product for joint disease?

Thanks for any thoughts on this.

Regards,

Don Miller