EXPRESS: Clinical and virological effects of the integrase inhibitor raltegravir in cats with naturally progressive feline leukaemia virus infection.

Raltegravir showed numerical but non-significant viral reductions without demonstrated survival benefit in progressive FeLV cats.

This prospective longitudinal study evaluated raltegravir, an integrase inhibitor, in 14 client-owned cats with naturally progressive feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) infection and FeLV-related conditions. Cats received raltegravir for 90 days followed by a 90-day observation period, with clinical assessments and viral load quantification at days 0, 45, 90, and 180. Results demonstrated numerically reduced plasma viral RNA loads (1.10-1.39 log₁₀ reductions at day 90) that did not achieve statistical significance. Raltegravir showed inconsistent effects on proviral DNA loads. Most FeLV-related conditions remained clinically stable or improved during monitoring. Leukaemia and lymphoma were primary causes of mortality, with median survival of 48 months from FeLV diagnosis and 10.8 months from treatment initiation. This first prospective study of raltegravir in naturally infected FeLV-progressive cats suggests possible numerical viraemia reductions and clinical stabilization in some animals, but definitive virological or survival benefits could not be demonstrated. The authors recommend longer-term controlled studies within multimodal antiviral strategies.

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