DepoCyte™ (cytarabine脂肪微粒注射剂)已获欧盟核准上市，适应症为治疗淋巴瘤脑膜炎。这是第一个经由欧盟药品委员会审查核准的淋巴瘤脑膜炎治疗药。
淋巴瘤脑膜炎是一种严重的癌症并发症，当癌细胞扩散至脑膜、脊髓膜、脑脊髓液时，称为淋巴瘤脑膜炎。根据美国淋巴瘤研究基金会的统计，7~15%罹患淋巴瘤的病人会发生淋巴瘤脑膜炎。 
应用SkyePharma的专利制剂技术DepoFoam™所研发的DepoCyte™是一种缓释型的cytarabine注射剂，药品注射入脊髓鞘后，cytarabine缓缓地释入脑脊髓液中，时间可长达二周以上；而传统的cytarabine注射剂则需每周投药二次，通常需要预先植入导管于脑中。此外，DepoCyte能够长时间维持较高的cytarabine浓度，因此治疗效果较佳。

DepoCyte™已于美国、加拿大核准上市，商品名为DepoCyt®，代理商分别为Chiron及Paladin两家公司。

新近，美国FDA已批准奇龙（Chiron）公司／斯基制药（Skye Pharma）公司的阿糖胞苷脂射液，蛛网膜下腔用药治疗非何杰金氏淋巴瘤严重并发症淋巴瘤性脑膜炎，商品名为DepoCyt。本品系一阿糖胞苷注射用缓释制剂，用称之为贮库泡沫（DepoFoom）的脂质基质包周一次直接注入脑脊液中，而不是常规定蛛网膜下腔化疗1周二次用药。

Brand Names and Other Names

This drug is registered for use in humans only.

Human formulations: Tarabine® (Adria), Cytarabine® (Faulding), Cytosar-U® (Gensia Sicor), and generic cytarabine.

Veterinary formulations: None

Uses of Cytarabine

Cytarabine may be used for the following conditions:

Lymphoreticular neoplasms

Myeloproliferative disease (leukemias)

CNS lymphoma

Granulomatous meningoencephalitis

Precautions and Side Effects

Cytarabine can cause severe side effects, including death, in some animals.

Cytarabine should not be used in animals with known hypersensitivity or allergy to the drug or in those with active meningeal infection.

Cytarabine may cause fetal harm and should probably be avoided in pregnant animals.

Myelosuppression occurs with cytarabine, leading to leucopenia. Anemia and thrombocytopenia may also occur.

Proper monitoring of blood work is essential with this drug. Peak myelosuppression occurs after about a week of treatment. Hyperuricemia may occur during treatment in human patients, so it may be prudent to check blood uric acid levels during treatment.

Drug Interactions

Cytarabine may interact with other medications. Consult with your veterinarian to determine if other drugs your pet is receiving could interact with cytarabine. Such interactions may include:
Cytarabine may decrease digoxin absorption and may have some negative interaction with gentamicin.

How Cytarabine is Supplied
Cytarabine is an injectable medication that comes in a 20mg/mL concentrations. It also is available as a powder for injection in 100mg, 500mg, 1g, and 2g in multidose vials (that is reconstituted with sterile 0.9% saline solution to make 20, 50, or 100mg/mL concentration).

Dosing Information

Medication should never be administered without first consulting your veterinarian.

The dosage prescribed may vary depending on the reason for prescribing.

The duration of administration depends on the condition being treated, response to the medication and the development of any adverse effects. Be certain to complete the prescription unless specifically directed by your veterinarian. Even if your pet feels better, the entire treatment plan should be completed to prevent relapse.

Cytarabine is frequently used as part of a multi-drug chemotherapeutic regimen. *Doses and routes of administration vary.*

In dogs, the usual dose is 100 mg/m2 subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intravenously once daily for 2 to 4 days, increasing to 150mg/m2 if well tolerated. Cancer suppression can be maintained with a combination of agents that may or may not include periodic treatment with cytarabine. Alternatively, 150mg/m2 for 5 days repeated for 3 consecutive weeks.

In cats, the usual dose is100 mg/m2 subcutaneously or intravenously once daily for 2 to 4 days; then 10 mg/m2, once daily for 2 weeks.