Liposome-based diclofenac for the treatment of inflammation in an acute synovitis model in horses.

Lameness as a result of joint disease is a major source of decreased athletic performance in the horse. Most treatment protocols include the administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Phenylbutazone, alone or in combination with other treatments, is the most commonly and widely used NSAID, however it has the potential for serious side effects. The introduction of the liposome-based formulation of the NSAID diclofenac has shown promising effect as a safe and convenient treatment for lameness associated with osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical liposome-based diclofenac in an acute inflammation model using subjective lameness scores and objective lameness evaluation, carpal surface temperature and circumference, synovial fluid cell count and total protein content, and the biochemical markers interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and prostaglandin E(2) as determinants of inflammation. In this acute inflammation model, there was no overall difference between treatment and control groups.