Test Results: January 2, 2024: Progressive: Increase

Update

Just after the New Year 2024, we had Chiana tested again for FeLV. In addition to checking her viral load, our vet drew blood to assess whether raltegravir was affecting her liver or kidneys. The results were mixed.

The good news: the 25 mg dose of raltegravir, given once daily, is not affecting her organs, which is a big relief. However, her FeLV viral load has increased for the first time since starting the drug.

Test Results

Date	Status	Viral Load
9/28/23	REGRESSIVE	0.59 x 10⁶ = 590,000
1/2/24	Progressive	6.32 x 10⁶ = 6,320,000

Analysis

Her viral load increased from regressive at 0.59 x 10⁶ (590,000) to progressive at 6.32 x 10⁶ (6,320,000). The cutoff between regressive and progressive is 1 million (1,000,000).

While we’re not thrilled about the increase, it’s somewhat reassuring that it wasn’t drastic, especially considering she started at 90.98 x 10⁶ (90,980,000).

This result challenges the original theory that her viral load would consistently decrease. Why the sudden increase? We’re not certain, but her significant weight gain might be a factor. When Chiana started on this drug in March 2023, she weighed just 6 lbs (as of 2/18/23). As of 1/2/24, she’s a robust Maine Coon weighing nearly 14 lbs!

Next Steps

• Increase her raltegravir dosage from 25 mg once daily to 50 mg (25 mgs twice a day.) This adjustment started on 1/4/24.
• Schedule her next test at the beginning of April 2024 to monitor her viral load.

Resources / Studies / Papers

Finding reliable resources on FeLV can be difficult, but we’ve found one Facebook group that's been incredibly helpful: Owners of FeLV+/FIV+ Cats. This is a community of caring and compassionate people who are fighting for the lives of these cats. If you’re dealing with FeLV or FIV, it’s definitely worth joining.

Raltegravir: Resources We Found Early On

After we learned about raltegravir, my husband, M----, began researching its use for treating FeLV. Here are three key resources that we found, which offer valuable insights into the treatment. You can easily find them by searching online, and I've included pictures of the first pages of each document for reference.

1. Evaluation of the Effect of Short-Term Treatment with the Integrase Inhibitor Raltegravir (IsentressTM) on the Course of Progressive Feline Leukemia Virus Infection
   This was the first scientific paper we came across that provided real evidence of raltegravir's effectiveness against FeLV.
2. Undetectable Proviral DNA and Viral RNA Levels After Raltegravir Administration in Two Cats with Natural Feline Leukemia Virus Infection
   M---- refers to this as the “Brazilian paper.” While it’s not a formal research paper, it’s a report detailing the experience with a few cats, and it was very helpful.
3. Efficacy of Antiviral Chemotherapy for Retrovirus-Infected Cats: What Does the Current Literature Tell Us?
   This paper offers an interesting comparison of various treatment options available for FeLV, which helped guide our understanding of the available choices.