メラルソミン
Melarsomine
Melarsomine dihydrochloride
別名: Immiticide · Diroban · Melarsomine dihydrochloride
VetSheet 獣医チームが監修更新日 2026年4月5日エビデンスに基づく獣医学リファレンス
用量は獣医専門家向けの臨床参考資料です。必ず最新の医薬品情報および個別症例に基づいて確認してください。
動物種別用量
🌎 NA — North America🌍 EU — Europe
犬
| 適応 | 用量 | 経路 | 頻度 | 期間 | 地域 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heartworm disease (Class I & II) | 2.5 mg/kg deep IM as directed (lumbar epaxial muscles (L3-L5) twice 24 hours apart | IM | q24h for 2 doses | 2 days | 🌎 NA |
| Heartworm disease (Class III) | 2.5 mg/kg deep IM as directed (lumbar epaxial muscles (L3-L5). Strict rest and give all necessary systemic treatment. One month later, give 2.5 mg/kg deep IM as directed (lumbar epaxial muscles (L3-L5) twice 24 hours apart. | IM | Once, then q24h for 2 doses 1 month later | 1 month + 2 days | 🌎 NA |
| Heartworm disease (Alternative Protocol / AHS Treatment of Choice) | 2.5 mg/kg deep IM as directed (lumbar epaxial muscles; L3-L5). Strict rest and give all necessary systemic treatment. One month later, give 2.5 mg/kg deep IM as directed (lumbar epaxial muscles; L3-L5) twice 24 hours apart | IM | Once, then q24h for 2 doses 1 month later | 1 month + 2 days | 🌎 NA |
- Heartworm disease (Class I & II): Use alternating sides with each administration. In 4 months, the regimen may be repeated.
- Heartworm disease (Class III): Requires strict rest.
- Heartworm disease (Alternative Protocol / AHS Treatment of Choice): Treatment of choice regardless of stage of disease due to increased safety and efficacy.
用量は獣医専門家向けの臨床参考資料です。必ず最新の医薬品情報および個別症例に基づいて確認してください。
概要
メラルソミン(Melarsomine)は、犬糸状虫(Dirofilaria immitis)の成虫駆除に特化して使用される有機ヒ素系化学療法剤です。成熟した成虫および未成熟(生後4ヶ月、L5期)の幼虫に対して高い有効性を示します。
臨床上のポイント:メラルソミンは唯一承認されている成虫駆除薬ですが、現在の米国犬糸状虫学会(AHS)のガイドラインでは、マルチモーダルなアプローチが強く推奨されています。メラルソミン投与の1〜2ヶ月前から、マクロライド系薬剤(イベルメクチンなど)とドキシサイクリンによる前治療を行うことが推奨されます。ドキシサイクリンは、糸状虫の生存と繁殖に不可欠な共生細菌(Wolbachia)を排除し、糸状虫を弱体化させ、虫体のバイオマスを減少させることで、虫体死滅時の炎症反応や重篤な肺血栓塞栓症のリスクを大幅に低下させます。
メラルソミンは以前の薬剤であるチアセタルサミドよりも安全で有効ですが、依然として安全域が狭く、正確な用量計算と投与技術が必要です。
作用機序
While the exact mechanism of action is not definitively established, as an arsenical compound, melarsomine is believed to exert its parasiticidal effect by binding to sulfhydryl (-SH) groups of essential enzymes within the parasite.
- Enzyme Inhibition → Disrupts cellular respiration and vital metabolic pathways in the parasite.
- Target → Highly effective (90-99%) at killing adult and L5 larval stages of D. immitis in dogs.
- Clearance → Dead worms degrade and are swept into the pulmonary vasculature, where they are eventually cleared by the host's immune system (macrophages).
安全性・警告
禁忌
- Class IV (very severe) heartworm disease / Caval syndrome
- Cats (reportedly very toxic)
- Intravenous (IV) administration
- Subcutaneous (SC) administration
有害事象
- Injection site reactions (pain, swelling, tenderness, firm nodules)
- Coughing/gagging
- Depression/lethargy
- Anorexia/inappetence
- Excessive salivation
- Fever
- Lung congestion
- Vomiting
- Pulmonary thromboembolism (can be fatal)
- Paresis and paralysis (rare)
注意事項
Low margin of safety; calculate dosages very carefully (do not confuse mg/lb with mg/kg). Administer ONLY via deep IM injection in the lumbar epaxial muscles (L3-L5). Do NOT give IV or SC, as significant toxicity or tissue necrosis may occur. Strict cage rest (2-4 weeks) is mandatory to prevent fatal pulmonary thromboembolism. Older dogs (>8 years) and those with severe pulmonary artery disease are at higher risk for adverse effects. Avoid human exposure; wash hands after use or wear gloves. If human exposure occurs, contact a physician.
医薬品相互作用
Has been shown not to reduce adverse effects and may complicate therapy; use is not recommended.
Drugs that have similar adverse effects (e.g., depression) may cause additive adverse effects or increase their incidence when used with melarsomine.
監視
- Clinical efficacy
- Adverse effects (observe dogs for 24 hours after the last injection)
- Signs of pulmonary thromboembolism (coughing, hemoptysis, tachypnea, dyspnea)
- Injection site reactions
薬物動態
半減期
吸収
Rapidly absorbed after IM injection in dogs; time to peak plasma concentration is about 11 minutes.
分布
The apparent volume of distribution is about 0.7 L/kg.
消失
Terminal half-life is approximately 3 hours.
過剰投与
There is a low margin of safety with melarsomine.
- 3X dose (7.5 mg/kg) in healthy dogs causes respiratory inflammation and distress, excessive salivation, restlessness, panting, vomiting, edema, tremors, lethargy, ataxia, cyanosis, stupor, and death.
- 2X dose in infected dogs has caused diarrhea, excessive salivation, restlessness, panting, vomiting, and fever.
- Treatment: Dimercaprol (BAL in Oil) may be considered to treat melarsomine overdoses, though it may reduce the clinical efficacy of the melarsomine.
製品
製剤
- Powder for injection
動物用医薬品
- Melarsomine Dihydrochloride Powder for Injection: 50 mg/vial (Immiticide)
規制ステータス
規制データなし: 🇺🇸 US · 🇪🇺 EU · 🇬🇧 UK · 🇭🇰 HK · 🇹🇼 TW · 🇯🇵 JP · 🇰🇷 KR · 🇦🇺 AU
保管・安定性
The unreconstituted powder should be stored upright at room temperature. Reconstitute with 2 mL of the provided sterile water for injection (yields 25 mg/mL). Once reconstituted, keep in the original container and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Do not freeze. Do not mix with any other drug.
飼主向け情報
極めて重要な警告:厳格なケージレスト(安静)が必須です。
- 運動制限:犬糸状虫の成虫が死ぬと、バラバラになって肺に運ばれます。心拍数が上がる(歩行、遊び、興奮など)と、これらの虫の破片が肺の細い血管の奥深くに押し込まれ、致命的な閉塞(肺血栓塞栓症)を引き起こす可能性があります。治療後数週間は、犬をケージや狭い部屋に厳重に隔離する必要があります。
- 注射部位の痛み:薬は背中の筋肉の深部に注射されます。犬が痛がったり、動くのを嫌がったり、注射部位に小さなしこりができたりするのは正常な反応です。
- 観察すべき点:咳、えずき、発熱、無気力、食欲不振がないか、犬を注意深く観察してください。
- 緊急のサイン:犬が深刻な呼吸困難に陥ったり、歯茎が青白く(または青紫に)なったり、倒れたりした場合は、直ちに緊急の獣医の診察を受けてください。
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