Preferential accumulation of meloxicam in inflamed synovial joints of dogs.

MELOXICAM is a NSAID classified as a derivative of enolic acid, licensed to treat acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders in the dog. Meloxicam achieves maximal plasma concentration 4.5 hours after oral administration, has a low volume of distribution (0.3 l/kg), is highly plasma protein bound (97 per cent) and has an elimination half-life of 24 hours in dogs (EMA 2011). Steady state pharmacokinetics are achieved within one day using the licensed dose rate in the dog (EMA 2011). Preferential accumulation and persistence of meloxicam in inflamed joints of both the rat and the human being have previously been documented (Busch and Engelhardt 1990, Lapicque and others 2000). The objective of this study was to investigate the concentration of meloxicam in the synovial fluid of inflamed joints versus non-inflamed joints in dogs at the lowest plasma concentration (ie, trough level), 24 hours postdosing.