Canine and Feline Pemphigus Foliceus

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Published on Drupal Home > Canine and feline pemphigus foliaceus: Improving your chances of a successful outcome Canine and feline pemphigus foliaceus: Improving your chances of a successful outcome A thoughtful diagnostic and therapeutic process is critical to managing dogs and cats suffering from this potentially fatal dermatologic disease. Jan 01, 2010 By Kathy C. Tater, DVM, DACVD , Thierry Olivry, DrVet, PhD, DACVD, DECVD VETERINARY MEDICINE Pemphigus foliaceus, the most common autoimmune skin condition in dogs and cats, is characterized by pustules, erosions, and crusts. In this article, we focus on the diagnosis and treatment of pemphigus foliaceus in dogs and cats. PATHOGENESIS Pemphigus foliaceus affects the epidermis, the outermost superficial skin layer. To help the epidermis act as a barrier to the outside world, the epidermis is composed primarily of tightly adherent keratinocytes. Two types of adhesion structures hold keratinocytes together. Desmosomes are responsible for celltocell adhesion. Hemidesmosomes are responsible for celltomatrix adhesion. In the skin, hemidesmosomes bind the deep or basilar epidermal keratinocytes to the basement membrane. The pemphigus variants occur when autoantibodies target the desmosomes between keratinocytes. Desmosome disruption results in separation of the keratinocytes, which is referred to as acantholysis. Keratinocytes that have lost their celltocell adhesion are called acantholytic keratinocytes, not acanthocytes (i.e. crenated red blood cells). In pemphigus foliaceus in people, the most common target of autoantibodies is the desmoglein 1 (DSG1) glycoprotein in the desmosome. 1,2 The autoantibody response primarily involves IgG (IgG4 subclass). 3 Initial studies in dogs with pemphigus foliaceus only rarely detected an IgG autoantibody response, 4,5 but more recent work using different substrates in indirect immunofluorescence testing confirms that IgG autoantibodies are important in canine pemphigus foliaceus. 6 However, DSG1 is not commonly targeted in pemphigus foliaceus in dogs 7 ; it is not yet known which part of the desmosome is targeted in most canine pemphigus foliaceus cases. Early immunoblotting studies revealed that the target was a 148 kDa or 160 kDa protein. 8,9 Immunoelectron microscopy shows that the site of autoantibody binding is in the extracellular region of the desmosome. 10 The word pemphigus is used for the entire group of autoimmune blistering diseases in which intraepidermal separation occurs via acantholysis. Pemphigus foliaceus is a specific type of superficial pemphigus and is clinically distinct from deep pemphigus diseases. Another example of superficial pemphigus disease is pemphigus erythematosus. Examples of deep pemphigus diseases include paraneoplastic pemphigus, pemphigus vulgaris, and bullous pemphigoid. The signs of an attack on keratinocyte adhesion structures are clinically evident. When the tight bonds between superficial keratinocytes are affected, it manifests as vesicles and pustules. When the tight bonds between basilar keratinocytes and the skin's basement membrane are affected, it manifests as bullae (large blisters) and ulcers.

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    Home>Canineandfelinepemphigusfoliaceus:Improvingyourchancesofasuccessfuloutcome

    Canineandfelinepemphigusfoliaceus:ImprovingyourchancesofasuccessfuloutcomeAthoughtfuldiagnosticandtherapeuticprocessiscriticaltomanagingdogsandcatssufferingfromthispotentiallyfataldermatologicdisease.

    Jan01,2010ByKathyC.Tater,DVM,DACVD,ThierryOlivry,DrVet,PhD,DACVD,DECVDVETERINARYMEDICINE

    Pemphigusfoliaceus,themostcommonautoimmuneskinconditionindogsandcats,ischaracterizedbypustules,erosions,andcrusts.Inthisarticle,wefocusonthediagnosisandtreatmentofpemphigusfoliaceusindogsandcats.

    PATHOGENESIS

    Pemphigusfoliaceusaffectstheepidermis,theoutermostsuperficialskinlayer.Tohelptheepidermisactasabarriertotheoutsideworld,theepidermisiscomposedprimarilyoftightlyadherentkeratinocytes.Twotypesofadhesionstructuresholdkeratinocytestogether.Desmosomesareresponsibleforcelltocelladhesion.Hemidesmosomesareresponsibleforcelltomatrixadhesion.Intheskin,hemidesmosomesbindthedeeporbasilarepidermalkeratinocytestothebasementmembrane.

    Thepemphigusvariantsoccurwhenautoantibodiestargetthedesmosomesbetweenkeratinocytes.Desmosomedisruptionresultsinseparationofthekeratinocytes,whichisreferredtoasacantholysis.Keratinocytesthathavelosttheircelltocelladhesionarecalledacantholytickeratinocytes,notacanthocytes(i.e.crenatedredbloodcells).

    Inpemphigusfoliaceusinpeople,themostcommontargetofautoantibodiesisthedesmoglein1(DSG1)glycoproteininthedesmosome.1,2TheautoantibodyresponseprimarilyinvolvesIgG(IgG4subclass).3InitialstudiesindogswithpemphigusfoliaceusonlyrarelydetectedanIgGautoantibodyresponse,4,5butmorerecentworkusingdifferentsubstratesinindirectimmunofluorescencetestingconfirmsthatIgGautoantibodiesareimportantincaninepemphigusfoliaceus.6

    However,DSG1isnotcommonlytargetedinpemphigusfoliaceusindogs7itisnotyetknownwhichpartofthedesmosomeistargetedinmostcaninepemphigusfoliaceuscases.Earlyimmunoblottingstudiesrevealedthatthetargetwasa148kDaor160kDaprotein.8,9Immunoelectronmicroscopyshowsthatthesiteofautoantibodybindingisintheextracellularregionofthedesmosome.10

    Thewordpemphigusisusedfortheentiregroupofautoimmuneblisteringdiseasesinwhichintraepidermalseparationoccursviaacantholysis.Pemphigusfoliaceusisaspecifictypeofsuperficialpemphigusandisclinicallydistinctfromdeeppemphigusdiseases.Anotherexampleofsuperficialpemphigusdiseaseispemphiguserythematosus.Examplesofdeeppemphigusdiseasesincludeparaneoplasticpemphigus,pemphigusvulgaris,andbullouspemphigoid.

    Thesignsofanattackonkeratinocyteadhesionstructuresareclinicallyevident.Whenthetightbondsbetweensuperficialkeratinocytesareaffected,itmanifestsasvesiclesandpustules.Whenthetightbondsbetweenbasilarkeratinocytesandtheskin'sbasementmembraneareaffected,itmanifestsasbullae(largeblisters)andulcers.

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    Morerecently,pemphigusfoliaceushasbeenproposedasthegeneraltermforallsuperficialpemphigusdiseases,sincethereisanoverlapinclinical,histologic,andimmunologiccharacteristicsamongallthesuperficialpemphigusconditions.11Deeppemphigusconditions,though,stillremainclinicallyandimmunologicallydistinctfromthesuperficialpemphigusconditions.Thus,thetermpemphigusshouldnotbeusedasadiagnosisbyitselfforanypatientbecauseitreferstoaheterogeneousgroupofbothsuperficialanddeeppemphigusconditions.

    SIGNALMENTANDCAUSES

    Geneticfactorscaninfluencethedevelopmentofpemphigusfoliaceus.Indogs,itismorefrequentlydiagnosedintwobreedswithcloselyrelatedgenotypes,12Akitasandchows.4Pemphigusfoliaceushasalsobeenreportedinlittermates.13Nobreeddispositionhasbeennotedinfelinepemphigusfoliaceus.

    Sexandageappeartobeunrelatedtothedevelopmentofpemphigusfoliaceusindogsandcats.Theageofonsetisvariableandrangesfrom1to16yearsindogs4,5,14andlessthan1yearofage4toupto17yearsofage15incats.

    Ultravioletlight

    Ultravioletexposurefromthesunisapotentialenvironmentaltriggerforpemphigusfoliaceus.Theskinlesionsindogswithpemphigusfoliaceuscanworseninthesummerandimproveinthewinter.16,17ExposingdogswithfacialpemphigusfoliaceustoultravioletB(UVB)resultsinincreasedepidermalacantholysis.18WethinkthereisalowerprevalenceofcaninepemphigusfoliaceusincoolerU.S.regionscomparedwithwarmerU.S.regionswithmoresunexposure.

    Drugs

    Drugscaninfluencethedevelopmentofpemphigusfoliaceus.19Somedrugsdirectlyinduceacantholysis(druginducedpemphigusfoliaceus).Drugscanactivateproteolyticenzymesintheskinthatthendisruptdesmosomesandresultinbiochemicalacantholysis.Drugscanalsostimulatethedevelopmentofautoantibodiesagainstdesmosomes,resultinginimmunologicacantholysis.20Drugtriggeredpemphigusfoliaceusoccursinpatientspredisposedtopemphigusfoliaceus.Thecombinationofthedrugandotherpatientfactorsthentriggersaflareupofpemphigusfoliaceus.19

    Humandruginducedpemphigusfoliaceusisusuallyassociatedwithexposuretomedicationswithchemicalstructuresthatcancontributetotheactivationofproteolyticenzymesintheskin.ThesedrugsincludethiolcompoundscontainingSH,orsulfhydryl,groups(e.g.penicillamine),medicationsthatcanundergometabolicchangesandformactiveSHgroups(e.g.penicillins,cephalosporins),ormedicationsthatcontainactiveamidegroups(e.g.enalapril).20Indogsandcats,pemphigusfoliaceushasbeensuspectedtobeassociatedwithavarietyofmedicationssuchascimetidine,21cephalexin,22amoxicillinandclavulanicacid,23

    ampicillin,24andtrimethoprimsulfonamidecombinations.25

    Manypatientswithnewlydiagnosedpemphigusfoliaceushaveahistoryofexposuretomultiplemedications.Ifapatienthaseitherdruginducedordrugtriggeredpemphigusfoliaceus,discontinuingthemedicationcouldhelpmanagethepemphigusfoliaceusorcausethepemphigusfoliaceustogointoremission.Itisdifficult,though,toproveanassociationbetweenanydrugandthepemphigusfoliaceus.Drugrechallengewoulddefinitivelyconfirmdruginducedpemphigusfoliaceus,butsincethiscouldharmthepatient,wedonotrecommenddrugrechallengeincutaneousdrugreactions.Observingapoptotickeratinocyteshistologicallycannotbeusedasamarkerforadrugreactionsinceapoptotickeratinocytesmaybeseenindogswithpemphigusfoliaceus.26

    Ifdrugrelatedpemphigusfoliaceusissuspected,reviewthepatient'sdrughistorycarefully.Cutaneousdrugreactionstypicallydevelopmorethansevendaysafterthefirstadministrationofadrug.Ifthepatienthasbeenpreviouslyexposedtothedrug,reactionsarequickandoccurwithin24hoursofdrugreexposure.27

    Morerecently,weareawareofreportsthatadministrationofatopicalspotonproductcontainingmetaflumizoneandamitraz(ProMerisFortDodgeAnimalHealth)hasbeenassociatedwithpemphigusfoliaceusindogs.Themechanismfor

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    1.Apustulejustcaudaltotheplanumnasaleofadogalopeciaanderythemaarealsopresentinthedorsalnasalregion.

    2.Crustsfromrupturedpustulesonadog'snasalplanumanddorsalnasalregion.

    3.Ulcerationfromadeeppyodermainapatientwithpemphigusfoliaceus.Ulcersshouldnotbeseeninpemphigusfoliaceuspatientsunlessanotherconditionsuchasapyodermaispresent.Notethesymmetricalappearanceofthefaciallesions.

    thisreactioniscurrentlyunknownbutisanareaofactiveresearchatoneofourlaboratories(T.O.).

    Othercauses

    Avarietyofotherfactorsarepossibletriggersforhumanpemphigusfoliaceus.Fogoselvagem,aformofhumanpemphigusfoliaceusendemictosomeruralareasofBrazil,islikelyduetoacombinationofenvironmentalfactorsandpossiblythepatient'sgeneticsusceptibility.28,29Nutrition(thiolcontainingfoodssuchasgarlicandonions30,31)andinfection32havealsobeenassociatedwithsomecasesofhumanpemphigusfoliaceus.Itisunknownifanyofthesefactors,especiallydiet,aretriggersincanineandfelinepemphigusfoliaceus.

    Caninepemphigusfoliaceuscanbeassociatedwithahistoryofchronicskindiseasesuchasallergies,33althoughnostudieshavedefinitivelyprovedthislink.Caninepemphigusfoliaceushasalsobeenreportedinpatientswithotherconditionssuchashypothyroidism,34

    leishmaniasis,35thymoma,36andsystemiclupuserythematosus.37Pemphigusfoliaceusmaybepresentinthesepatientsthroughcoincidence,orpemphigusfoliaceusmaybeoccurringinthesepatientsthroughtheinductionofdesmosomeautoantibodiestriggeredbythesesystemicconditions.

    CLINICALSIGNS

    Theearliestlesionsofpemphigusfoliaceusconsistoferythematousmaculesthatthenprogressrapidlytoapustularstage.Pustulestendtobelarge,irregular,andcoalescing(Figure1).Multiplehairshaftsprotrudingfrompustulesaremoreconsistentwithpemphigusfoliaceusandhelpdifferentiatepemphigusfoliaceusfromthemorecommoncauseofpustules,bacterialfolliculitis.38Becausepustulesarefragileandeasilyruptured,onlycrustsorthedriedexudatefromrupturedpustulesmaybenoted(Figure2).Forthisreason,crustsratherthanpustulesarethemostcommonlyseenlesionincasesofpemphigusfoliaceus.4,5,14

    Erosionscanbenoted,especiallyifacrustisremoved.Ulcersarerarebecausepemphigusfoliaceusisasuperficialepidermalskindisease.Ulcerscanbeseenincasesofpemphigusfoliaceusthathaveaconcurrentconditionthataffectsthedeepersectionsofskinsuchasadeeppyoderma(Figure3).Rarely,erosions,crusts,andpustulescanbegroupedintoanannularorpolycyclicpattern.Pemphigusfoliaceuslesionstypicallyhaveawaxingandwaningcourse.Lesionsareusuallybilateralandsymmetrical.

    Lesionsontheconcavepinnaeshouldincreaseyourclinicalsuspicionofpemphigusfoliaceussincefewotherpustularconditionsaffecttheconcavepinnae(Figure4).Mucosallesionsarerareinpemphigusfoliaceus.

    Inmostdogs,lesionsinitiallyappearontheface(thedorsalmuzzle,

    planumnasale,periocularskin,andears)and

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    4.Crustsanddriedexudateontheconcavepinnaofadogwithpemphigusfoliaceus.(PhotocourtesyofLaurenPinchbeck,DVM,DACVD.)

    5.Crustsonthefootpadsofadogwithpemphigusfoliaceus.

    6.Erosionsandcrustsonthefaceandearsofacatwithpemphigusfoliaceus.

    7.Pedalpemphigusfoliaceusinacat.

    thenregionalizeorgeneralizeoverthecourseofmonths.Rarely,somedogswilleitherstartwithageneralizeddistributionorhaveonlyalocalizedformofthedisease.

    Indogandcatswithgeneralizedpemphigusfoliaceuslesions,widespreaderythemaandexfoliationcanbenoted.Massiveexfoliation,especiallyifextendingbeyondthebordersoftheoriginallesions,ismoresuggestiveofbacterialinfectionsthanpemphigusfoliaceus.Systemicsignssuchasfever,lethargy,anorexia,andlymphadenopathycanoccurwithpemphigusfoliaceus.15,33Systemicsignsseemmorecommoninpatientswithgeneralizedlesions.Pruritus,especiallyinpatientswithgeneralizeddisease,isvariableindogsandcatswithpemphigusfoliaceus.5,14,15Carefulquestioningofapetownercanrevealwhethertheskinlesionsdevelopedbeforethepruritus.Thistimingoflesiondevelopmentisincontrasttoallergies,whichusuallystartwithpruritus.

    Caninepemphigusfoliaceuscaninvolvethefootpadsalongwithothersitesonthebody.Rarely,caninepemphigusfoliaceusislocalizedonlytothefootpads.Pustulesareonlyrarelyseenonthefootpads,probablybecausethepustulesrupturewhilethepatientwalks.Clinically,pemphigusfoliaceusonthefootpadsresultsinlamenessandhyperkeratosis(Figure5).39,40Caninepemphigusfoliaceuscanalsorarelyoccurjustaroundtheclaws.41

    Inmostcats,pemphigusfoliaceusisamildandlocalized

    diseaseconsistingoferosionsandyellowishcrusts.Pemphigusfoliaceuscanalsospreadandbecomegeneralizedincats.15Felinepemphigusfoliaceusmostcommonlybeginsonthehead(Figure6).Lesionscanalsoaffectthepinnae.Catscanhavemarkedsuppurationandcrustsonoraroundthefootpadsorungualfoldsoftheclaws(caseousparonychiaFigure7).42,43Anonychodystrophycanalsooccurwiththesenailfoldlesions.

    DIFFERENTIALDIAGNOSES

    Infectiouscausesofpustulardermatitiscanmimicorcomplicatepemphigusfoliaceus.

    SuperficialpustulardermatophytosisisafungalinfectioninvolvingTrichophytonspecies.Thelesionscanlookclinicallyandhistopathologicallysimilartothoseofpemphigusfoliaceus.44Whilepustulardermatophytosisisuncommon,45werecommendevaluatingeachcaseofsuspectedpemphigusfoliaceusfordermatophytosisbecauseofthenegativeconsequencesofimmunosuppressive

    treatmentinpatientswithadermatophyteinfection.

    Adermatophyteculturecandiagnosesuperficialpustulardermatophytosis,andcytologicexaminationofthemacroconidiafromthegrowthcanidentifythefungalspecies.TheTrichophytonspeciesthatcausesthisformofdermatophytosiscanbepresentbothintheepidermisandinthehairfollicle.Scaleorcrustalongwithhairshouldbesampledforthedermatophyteculture.AperiodicacidSchiff(PAS)stainis

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    Table1:DiagnosticCriteriaforCanineandFelinePemphigusFoliaceus*

    8.Cytologicexaminationofanintactpustulefromadogwithpemphigusfoliaceusshowingraftsofacantholytickeratinocytes(arrows)andmanynondegenerateneutrophils(DiffQuikDadeBehring1000X).

    requiredtodifferentiatesuperficialpustulardermatophytosisfrompemphigusfoliaceushistologically.

    Bacterialskininfectionsareanotherdifferentialdiagnosisforpemphigusfoliaceus.Somestaphylococciproduceanexfoliativetoxinthattargetsdesmosomes,resultinginclinicalsignssimilartothoseofpemphigusfoliaceus.46Inthesecases,largeepidermalcollarettes,oftenextendingcentrifugally,arepresent.Exfoliationtendstobemoresevereinbacterialskininfectionsthaninpemphigusfoliaceus.Patientswithbacterialskininfectionswillalsodemonstratebacteriacytologically.Cytologicexaminationoftenshowsdegenerativeneutrophilswiththebacteria.Cultureoftheexudatefromwithinapustulecanidentifythebacterialspecies.

    DIAGNOSIS

    Pemphigusfoliaceusisdiagnosedbyevaluatingtheclinicalhistory,physicalexaminationfindings,andresultsofdiagnostictestssuchascytologicandhistologicexaminations(Table1).Becauseofthepotentialforseveresideeffects,pemphigusfoliaceusshouldbedefinitivelydiagnosedbeforesystemicimmunosuppressivetherapyisstarted.

    Cytology

    Cytologicexaminationofanintactpustule(Tzanckpreparation)canbeausefulinclinicdiagnostictestfortentativelydiagnosingpemphigusfoliaceuspendingbiopsyandhistologicexaminationresults.Cytologicexaminationofanintactpustuleinpemphigusfoliaceusshowsnondegenerateneutrophilswithacantholytickeratinocytes(Figure8).Thecytologicabsenceofbacteriamakesbacterialskininfectionalesslikelycauseoftheclinicalsigns.Sincesomecasesofsuperficialpustulardrugreactionsanddermatophytosiscanhavesimilarcytologicfindingstothoseofpemphigusfoliaceus,biopsyandhistologicexaminationarestillrecommendedbeforetreatmentofpemphigus

    foliaceus.

    Bloodtests

    Nohematologicchangesarespecifictopemphigusfoliaceus.Dogscanhaveamildtomoderateleukocytosiswithneutrophiliaandamildtomoderatenonregenerative,normocytic,andnormochromicanemia(anemiaofchronicdisease).5Catscanhavesimilarchangesinadditiontobasophilia,eosinophilia,lymphopenia,andmonocytosis.15Incats,noassociationexistsbetweenfelineleukemiavirusorfelineimmunodeficiencyvirusandpemphigusfoliaceus.Whileacompletebloodcountandserumchemistryprofilecannotdiagnosepemphigusfoliaceus,theycanhelpdiagnoseanyconcurrentsystemicdiseasesthatcouldbeexacerbatedbyimmunosuppressivetherapyforpemphigusfoliaceus.Bloodworkisalsorecommendedtoestablishbaselinevaluesbeforestartingimmunosuppressivetreatment.Anantinuclearantibodytestisnotnecessaryincasesofsuspectedpemphigusfoliaceus.

    Histology

    Biopsiesshouldideallybeperformedonpustules.Micropustulescanbepresentundercrustsand,thus,visibleonhistologicexamination.Forthisreason,ifanintactpustulecannotbefound,biopsyofacrustisanotheroption.Toavoiddisruptingpustulesorcrusts,donotscrubthebiopsysite.Instead,gentlyclipthebiopsysitewhileavoidingtheremovalofsurfacecrusts.Thebiopsysitecanthenbegentlyblottedwithalcohol.

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    9.Histologicexaminationofpustuleobtainedbyskinbiopsyfromacatwithpemphigusfoliaceusrevealssubcornealacantholytickeratinocytesandneutrophils(hematoxylineosin20X).

    Biopsyresultsaremorelikelytobediagnosticifglucocorticoids,bothtopicalandsystemic,arediscontinuedbeforebiopsy.15Werecommenddiscontinuingglucocorticoidsforatleastoneweekbeforebiopsy.Submitsamplestoadermatopathologistalongwithacompletehistoryanddescriptionoftheclinicallesions.Thedistributionofthelesionsisalsoimportant.AlistingofdermatopathologistscanbefoundonlineontheVeterinaryInformationNetwork(http://www.vin.com|~http://www.vin.com)searchfor"dermatopathologistregistry")orbycontactingyourlocaldermatologist.AllowthedermatopathologisttoperformPASstainssothatthebiopsycanbeevaluatedforpustulardermatophytosis.

    Histologicexaminationdemonstratespredominantlysuperficial,eosinophilic,orneutrophilicpustuleswithacantholytickeratinocytes(Figure9).Rarely,earlycasesofpemphigusfoliaceuscanshoweosinophilicpustuleswithspongiosis(intercellularedema)intheepidermisoraroundhairfolliclesbutnoacantholysis.47

    Whenbacterialskininfections(impetigoandexfoliativepyoderma)arepresentwithpemphigusfoliaceus,itcanbedifficulttodeterminewhichhistologicchangesareduetothepemphigusfoliaceusandwhichchangesareduetobacteria.Ingeneral,pemphigusfoliaceusismorecommonlyassociatedwithagreaterdensityofacantholyticcellsandlargepustulesthatspanacrossmultiplehairfolliclescomparedwithbacterialskininfections.38Treatanyconcurrentbacterialinfectionswithantimicrobialsbeforebiopsytoincreasethechancesofacleardiagnosisfromhistologicexamination.Ifyoureceiveaskinbiopsyreportthatlistsbothbacterialskininfectionandpemphigusfoliaceusaspossiblediagnoses,apracticalnextstepistotreatthepossiblebacterialskininfectionwithantimicrobialtherapy.Bacterialcultureoftheskinmaybenecessarytoselectanappropriateantibiotic.Fullresolutionoflesionswithonlyantimicrobialtherapyisconsistentwithabacterialskininfectionratherthanpemphigusfoliaceus.

    Systemicimmunosuppressionisnotrecommendedwithoutafirmdiagnosisofpemphigusfoliaceus.Ifapatientissuspectedofhavingpemphigusfoliaceusbutdiagnostictestresultsareinconclusive,additionalbiopsyofotherlesionsor,preferably,referraltoadermatologistisrecommended.

    Immunopathology

    Immunofluorescencetestingisusedprimarilyforresearchpurposestocharacterizetheimmunologicresponseinpemphigusfoliaceus.TheidentificationofintercellularepidermalIgGviadirectimmunofluorescenceisnotspecifictopemphigusfoliaceusindogs.4,14Indirectimmunofluorescenceidentifiescirculatingautoantibodiesbutishighlydependentonthesubstrate.Immunofluorescenceisnotnecessarytoclinicallydiagnoseandmanagepatientswithpemphigusfoliaceus.

    INITIALTREATMENTCONSIDERATIONS

    Pemphigusfoliaceusisoftenachronicskinconditionwithawaxingandwaningcourse.Clientsshouldbeawareofthepossibilityofdiseaserecurrenceafterremission.Becauseofthepotentialsideeffectsofmedications,dosesshouldbetaperedinresponsetoclinicalsigns.

    Itisimportanttoeducateclientsaboutmedicationsideeffectssothattheyunderstandwhymedicationdosesneedtobetapered.Remindclientsthatpemphigusfoliaceusflaresmayoccurafterdecreasingthemedicationdose.Withoutclienteducation,itiseasyforownerstobecomefrustratedandperceivethatthemedicationsarenothelping.Thelongtermcostsofrecheckexaminationsandteststomonitorpemphigusfoliaceuspatientsreceivingtherapycanalsobehigh.Aclienthandoutcanhelpeducateownersaboutpemphigusfoliaceus(todownloadahandout,gotohttp://www.dvm360.com/pemphigus|~http://www.dvm360.com/pemphigus).

    Onceclientshavebeenfullyinformedoftheprognosisandmedicationsideeffectsoftreatment,initiatepemphigusfoliaceustreatment.Nosetprotocolexistsfortreating

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    canineandfelinepemphigusfoliaceus.Instead,medicationsandtheirdosesneedtobeselectedforeachindividualpatientbasedontheseverityofclinicalsignsandthemedications'efficacyandsideeffects.

    Caninecasesofpemphigusfoliaceuswithlocalizedskinlesionsmaybemanagedwithtopicalglucocorticoids.Inmildcases,topicalglucocorticoidscanbeusedalone.Inmoreseverecases,topicalglucocorticoidscanbeusedtominimizethedoseofsystemicimmunosuppressivetherapy.Topicalglucocorticoidsarelesscommonlyusedincatsbecauseitcanbemoredifficulttoapplytopicalmedicationstocats.Inmostdogsandcats,systemicimmunosuppressionremainstheinitialtreatmentofchoiceforpemphigusfoliaceus.Concurrentsystemicantibiotictherapyshouldbeconsideredifthereisabacterialskininfection.

    MEDICATIONSUSEDFORPEMPHIGUSFOLIACEUS

    Glucocorticoids

    Topicalglucocorticoidscanbeusedasmonotherapyformildcasesofpemphigusfoliaceus,especiallyindogswithlocalizedfaciallesions.Theycanalsobeusedincombinationwithothersystemicmedicationsinmorerefractorycases.Avarietyofglucocorticoidsmorepotentthanhydrocortisonehavebeenusedtopicallyforpemphigusfoliaceussuchasbetamethasoneortriamcinolone,bothofwhichareavailableinavarietyofconcentrations.Sinceglucocorticoidscancauseskinatrophy,protecttheareaofglucocorticoidapplicationfromtrauma.Mildskinatrophycanbemanagedbyswitchingtoalowerpotencytopicalglucocorticoid.Moresevereskinatrophyshouldbemanagedbystoppingalltopicalglucocorticoids.

    Systemicimmunosuppressionwithglucocorticoidsprovidesthemostrapidclinicalresponseindogsandcatswithpemphigusfoliaceus.Prednisoneisinitiallystartedat2mg/kg/dayorallyindogs,andprednisoloneisinitiallystartedat2to4mg/kg/dayorallyincats.Thedoseofprednisoneorprednisolonemaythenbeincreasedifnoimprovementinclinicalsignsisevidentwithinoneortwoweeks.Catsmayrespondbettertoglucocorticoidsotherthanprednisonebecauseofthelowerbioavailabilityofprednisonecomparedwithotherglucocorticoidsincats.48Ifglucocorticoidsofdifferentpotenciesareused,equivalentdosesshouldbecalculated.Incats,triamcinolonecanbeinitiallydosedat2to4mg/kg/dayorally,anddexamethasonecanbeinitiallydosedat0.3to0.6mg/kg/dayorally.Theglucocorticoiddoseshouldbeselectedbasedontheclinicalsigns.Dogsandcatswithmildpemphigusfoliaceuslesionsmayrespondtolowerdosesofglucocorticoids.

    Longactinginjectableglucocorticoidssuchasmethylprednisoloneacetate(DepoMedrolPfizerAnimalHealth)arenotrecommendedfortreatingpemphigusfoliaceusthedoseofanyimmunosuppressivemedicationshouldideallybeadjustedinresponsetothepatient'sclinicalsigns.

    Dermatologistsoccasionallyusehighdosepulseoralandintravenousglucocorticoidadministrationtotreatpemphigusfoliaceusindogs.Thesehighdosages(oralprednisoneat10mg/kg/day49orintravenousmethylprednisolonesuccinateat11mg/kg/day50)aretypicallygivenforthreedaysfollowedbyamuchlowerdoseoforalprednisone(0.5to2mg/kg/day).Highdoseglucocorticoidadministrationisusedprimarilyinseverepemphigusfoliaceuscasesinwhichquickremissionofsignsisrequired.Relapseisstillpossibleoncetheglucocorticoiddoseisdecreased.Atthistime,highdosepulseglucocorticoidtherapyshouldbeconsideredexperimentalfurtherstudiesareneededtodemonstrateitsbenefit.

    Initialsideeffectsofglucocorticoidsincludepolyuria,polydipsia,andpolyphagia.Withlongertermuse,amyriadofothersideeffectscandevelopsuchasgastriculceration,hepatopathy(dogs),diabetesmellitus,calcinosiscutis,skinatrophy,andsecondaryinfections.Inaretrospectivestudy,theuseofgastroprotectantssuchassucralfateorhistaminereceptorblockers(famotidine)hadnoeffectonsurvivaltimeindogswithpemphigusfoliaceusreceivingglucocorticoids.51

    Inmanydogs,glucocorticoidsaloneareinsufficienttomanagepemphigusfoliaceussigns.Inpaststudies,glucocorticoidmonotherapyresultedinacceptablemanagementofpemphigusfoliaceussignsinonly35%to39%ofdogs.5,52Glucocorticoidmonotherapyismoreeffectiveincats.Completeremissionwithonlyglucocorticoidsoccursin62%to100%ofcatswithpemphigusfoliaceusreceivingprednisoneandtriamcinolone,respectively.15

    Anyoralglucocorticoidshouldbetaperedgraduallyonce

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    Table2:SystemicMedicationsUsedwithGlucocorticoidsinDogswithPemphigusFoliaceus

    Table3:SystemicMedicationsUsedwithGlucocorticoidsinCatswithPemphigusFoliaceus

    clinicalremissionofthepemphigusfoliaceusisachieved(nonewpustulesorerosions).Theexactglucocorticoidtaperingprotocolwillvaryineachpatient,but,ingeneral,glucocorticoidscanbetaperedbyabout25%eachtimethedoseisadjusted.Recheckthepatientaftereachchangeintheoralglucocorticoiddose.Ifthepemphigusfoliaceusrecurswhentheglucocorticoidistapered,anotherimmunosuppressivemedicationshouldbeadded.Likewise,whenglucocorticoidsalonecannotinduceremissionofpemphigusfoliaceus,otherimmunosuppressivemedicationsarethenusedasadjunctivetherapysothattheglucocorticoiddosemayinitiallybedecreasedandglucocorticoidadministrationcaneventuallybediscontinued(Tables2&3).

    Azathioprine

    Azathioprineisapurineanaloguethatinterfereswithcellularnucleicacidsynthesis.

    Thus,itsgreatestcytotoxiceffectisonproliferatingcellssuchaslymphocytes.Azathioprineismoreeffectiveatsuppressinghumoralimmunitythancellmediatedimmunity.

    Azathioprineisthemedicationmostcommonlyusedtomanagecaninepemphigusfoliaceuswhenlesionsdonotrespondtoglucocorticoidmonotherapy.Inthesecases,lesionsworsenorstaythesamewithglucocorticoidsorsignsrelapsewithlowerdosagesofglucocorticoids.Addingazathioprineinadogwithpemphigusfoliaceuscanthenreducetheneedforsystemicglucocorticoidsandpotentiallyenablediscontinuationoftheglucocorticoid.

    Azathioprineiscommonlystartedat2to2.5mg/kg/dayorallyindogswithpemphigusfoliaceus.Ifazathioprineisbeingusedwithglucocorticoidstomanagepemphigusfoliaceussigns,donotreducethedoseorfrequencyofglucocorticoidsimmediatelyafterstartingazathioprinesinceazathioprinecantakeweekstohaveaneffect.

    Sideeffectsofazathioprineincludebonemarrowsuppressionresultinginleukopenia,anemia,andthrombocytopenia.Vomiting,diarrhea,hepatotoxicosis,andacutepancreatitiscanalsooccur.Inourexperience,hepatotoxicosisisthemostcommonsideeffect.Completebloodcountsandserumchemistryprofilesmustbeperformedregularlywhileapatientisreceivingazathioprine,usuallyeverytwotothreeweeksduringinitialtherapy.Whenazathioprineandglucocorticoidsareusedtogether,itcanbedifficulttomonitorforazathioprineinducedhepatotoxicosisbecauseoftheusualelevationofserumliverenzymeactivitiescausedbyglucocorticoidadministration.

    Azathioprineismetabolizedbyanenzymecalledthiopurinemethyltransferase(TPMT).LowTPMTconcentrationsincreasetheriskofmyelosuppression.VariationsinTPMTconcentrationshavebeennotedindogs.53CatshavelowerTPMTconcentrationsthandogsdo,54andazathioprineisusuallyavoidedincatsbecauseofthehighlikelihoodofseveremyelosuppression.

    Chlorambucil

    ChlorambucilisanalkylatingagentthatcausescrosslinkingofcellularDNA.Dosesrangefrom0.1to0.2mg/kgorallyevery24to48hours.Sideeffectsincludevomiting,diarrhea,anorexia,andmyelosuppression.52Chlorambucilisespeciallyusedincatswithpemphigusfoliaceusthatfailtorespondtoglucocorticoidssinceazathioprineisnotatreatmentoptionforcats.Completebloodcountsandserumchemistryprofilesmustbeperformedregularlywhileapatientisreceivingchlorambucil,usuallyeverytwotothreeweeksduringinitialtherapy.

    Cyclosporine

    CyclosporineisacalcineurininhibitorthatblocksthetranscriptionofcytokinegenesinactivatedTcells.55Cyclosporineisanapprovedtreatmentforcanineatopicdermatitis(AtopicaNovartisAnimalHealth)andisusedextralabelforavarietyof

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    otherimmunemediatedconditionsindogsandcats.56Cyclosporine'ssideeffectsindogsandcatsincludeinappetence,vomiting,diarrhea,gingivalhyperplasia,hirsutism,papillomas,psoriasiformlichenoidlikedermatosis,anddisseminatedtoxoplasmosis.57,58Themicroemulsionformofcyclosporine(AtopicaNeoralNovartis)ismorereadilyabsorbedindogsandcatsandshouldbeusedinsteadofotherformsofcyclosporinesuchasSandimmune(Novartis).Completebloodcountsandserumchemistryprofilesmustbeperformedregularlywhileapatientisreceivingcyclosporinetherapy.Incatsreceivingcyclosporine,elevatedliverenzymeactivitiescanbeasignoftoxoplasmosis.59

    Inasmallpilotstudy,cyclosporinemonotherapyat5to10mg/kg/daywasineffectiveinmanagingpemphigusfoliaceussignsinfouroutoffivedogs.60Sincethepublicationofthatinitialstudy,therehavebeenanecdotalreportsofusingcyclosporineat10mg/kg/dayorgreatertomanagepemphigusfoliaceusindogs,especiallythosewithmilderpresentations.

    Cyclosporineismoreeffectiveforpemphigusfoliaceuswhenusedincombinationwithothertherapies.Inthreedogswithpemphigusfoliaceusalreadyreceivingazathioprineandglucocorticoids,oralcyclosporineat7.5to10mg/kg/daywasusedwithoralketoconazoleat2.5to5mg/kg/daytosuccessfullyinduceremission.61Theketoconazolewasusedtoincreasecyclosporineconcentrations.Alldogswerethenabletohaveglucocorticoidsdiscontinuedwithinthreeto12weeksofaddingthecyclosporineandketoconazole.Signsdidnotworsenwhentheglucocorticoidswerediscontinued.Cyclosporinewasusedsuccessfullywithprednisonetoinduceremissionofpemphigusfoliaceussignsinanotherstudyinvolvingfivedogs.62Initialdosesrangedfrom1to2.6mg/kg/dayand5to18mg/kg/dayfortheprednisoneandcyclosporine,respectively.Whiletheinitialcyclosporinedosewasmaintainedineachpatient,theprednisonedosewasthentaperedto0.5mg/kgeveryotherdaywithnorelapseofsigns.Thecyclosporinewascontinuedandeventuallytaperedto3to4mg/kgeveryotherday.Nostudiesexistonusingcyclosporinetomanagefelinepemphigusfoliaceus,butwehaveusedcyclosporinetomanagesomepatients.

    Inourexperience,cyclosporinecantakeweekstohaveaclinicaleffectonpemphigusfoliaceuslesions.Thisdelayedeffectmaybebecauseofcyclosporine'sactiononTlymphocytes,thecellsthatdrivetheautoimmunereaction,withoutdirecteffectonautoantibodiesthatcausetheskinlesions.Thus,ifcyclosporineisusedwithglucocorticoidstomanagepemphigusfoliaceussigns,donotreducethedoseorfrequencyofglucocorticoidsimmediatelyafterstartingcyclosporine.

    Tacrolimus

    Tacrolimus,anothercalcineurininhibitor,hasbeenusedtopicallyforconditionssuchaslocalizedatopyindogs63andpeople.Indogswithaformofsuperficialpemphigus(pemphiguserythematosus),applyingtacrolimus0.1%asathinfilmonfaciallesionstwiceadayhelpedmanageclinicalsigns.64Inthatstudy,tacrolimuswasusedasthesoletherapyinonedogwithsuperficialpemphigus,whiletheotherdogwasalsomanagedwithsystemicimmunosuppressivemedications.Ofnoteisthatpemphiguserythematosusissuspectedtobeacrossoverbetweendiscoidlupusandpemphigusfoliaceus.Itispossiblethatthenasallesionsofpemphiguserythematosusthatrespondedtotacrolimuswerethelupuslikelesions.Inouropinion,ingeneral,pemphigusfoliaceusdoesnotappeartorespondtotacrolimusointment.

    Tacrolimuscancauseapruriticorburningsensationduringtheinitialfewdaysofapplicationinpeople,andsignsofpruritusandirritationhavebeenobservedindogswithinitialuse.63Thesesignstypicallyresolvedespitecontinuationoftherapy.In2005,thetacrolimuslabelwaschangedtoincludeawarningthatsomepeoplehavedevelopedcancerwhilereceivingthismedication.Clientsshouldweargloveswhenapplyingthismedication.

    Niacinamidewithtetracyclineordoxycycline

    Tetracyclineisanantibioticthatalsomodulatestheimmunesystembysuppressingneutrophilchemotaxisandlymphocyteactivation.65Tetracyclineisusedincombinationwithniacinamideforavarietyofimmunemediateddermatologicconditions.

    Fordogs10kg,thedoseis500mgofeacheveryeighthours.

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    Table4:PrinciplesofTreatingPemphigus

    Tetracyclineandniacinamidearetypicallynotusedincatsbecauseitisdifficulttoadministertheselargersizedoralmedicationstomostcats.Doxycyclinehastheadvantageofneedinglessfrequentdosingthantetracycline.Ithasbeensubstitutedfortetracyclineandusedatadoseof5to10mg/kgorallyindogsevery12to24hours.However,thereisnodocumentationofthebenefitofdoxycyclinewhenitissubstitutedfortetracyclinetotreatcaninepemphigusfoliaceus.

    Tetracyclineandniacinamideappeartobemorehelpfulasasoletherapyinmildcasesofpemphigusfoliaceus,especiallythosecaseswithlesionslocalizedtotheface.Itcanalsobeusedincombinationwithglucocorticoidsorazathioprine.66Itcantakeseveralweeksfortetracyclineandniacinamidetohaveaclinicaleffect.Onceremissionoccurswithtetracyclineandniacinamide,thefrequencyofadministrationcanbedecreasedtoonceortwiceaday.

    Sideeffectsincludelethargy,anorexia,diarrhea,andincreasedriskofseizures.Lethargyandanorexiaareespeciallyassociatedwithniacinamide.Iftheniacinamideneedstobediscontinued,thetetracycline(ordoxycycline)alonecancontinuetohaveimmunomodulatoryactivity.

    Othermedications

    Avarietyofothertherapieshavebeenusedforpemphigusfoliaceus,includingcyclophosphamide,injectablegoldsalts,intravenousimmunoglobulins,mycophenolatemofetil,anddapsone.Referraltoaveterinarydermatologistisrecommendedbeforeusingthesetherapies.Referralisalsorecommendediftreatmentfailureoccurswithanyofthemedicationsdiscussedinthisarticle.

    MONITORING

    Nomatterwhichmedicationsarechosentomanagepemphigusfoliaceus,frequentrecheckexaminationsareimportanttoassessclinicalresponseandtodeterminewhentotapermedications.Werecommendrecheckingallpemphigusfoliaceuspatientswithinoneortwoweeksofstartingmedicalmanagement.Asubstantialimprovementinclinicalsignswithin10daysofstartingglucocorticoidtherapyindogsisapositiveprognosticfactorinthesuccessfulmanagementofpemphigusfoliaceus.5

    Glucocorticoidsareoftenusedforpemphigusfoliaceustreatmentinductionbecauseoftheirrapidonset.Ifmarkedclinicalimprovementisnoted,theglucocorticoiddoseorfrequencyofadministrationshouldbetaperedbyabout25%.Ifclinicalsignshavestayedthesameorworseneddespiteglucocorticoidtherapy,theglucocorticoiddoseshouldbeincreasedorcombinationtherapyshouldbestarted.Combinationtherapyshouldalsobestartedifremissionofthepemphigusfoliaceuscannotbemaintainedwhentheglucocorticoiddoseistapered.Werecommendrecheckingpatientsbeforeandaftereachchangeinmedicationtypeordosetohelpmonitorclinicalsigns.

    Cutaneoussideeffectsofimmunosuppressionsuchasabacterialskininfection,demodicosis,ordermatophytosiscanlookclinicallysimilartoapemphigusfoliaceusflare.Itisimportanttoruleouttheseconditionsinsteadofassumingthatanynewdermatologiclesionsareduetopemphigusfoliaceus,otherwiselesionsmayworsenfromimmunosuppression,andrefractorypemphigusfoliaceusmaybeerroneouslydiagnosed.Skinscrapesandhairplucksshouldbeperformedonnewareasofalopecia,andcytologicexaminationshouldbeusedtoevaluatelesionsforsecondaryskininfections.

    Dependingonthemedicationbeingusedtomanagethepemphigusfoliaceus,bloodworkmaybenecessarytomonitorformedicationsideeffects.Regularurinebacterialculturesarerecommendedfordogsandcatsreceivingsystemicimmunosuppressivetherapytomonitorforocculturinarytractinfections.5Urinalysistoidentifyanactivesediment(whitebloodcellsintheurine)isnotaneffectivewaytoscreenforurinarytractinfectionsinmostpatientswithpemphigusfoliaceusbecausesystemicimmunosuppressionmaysuppressthenumberofwhitebloodcellsintheurineevenwhenaurinarytractinfectionispresent.TheprinciplesoftreatingcanineandfelinepemphigusfoliaceusaresummarizedinTable4.

    Theoutcomeoftreatingpemphigusfoliaceusindogsandcatsisvariable40%51to88%4ofdogswithpemphigusfoliaceushave

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    FoliaceusinDogsandCats

    theirconditionmanagedsuccessfully.Neitherayoungerageofonsetnoralocalizeddiseasepatterncorrelatewithimprovedsurvivaltimes.51Theonlyfactorthathasinfluencedlongterm

    survivaltimeindogswithpemphigusfoliaceusistheconcurrentuseofantimicrobialswithimmunosuppressivemedications,likelybecausetheantimicrobialsminimizethedevelopmentofsecondarybacterialskininfectionsandurinarytractinfections.Prolongedremissionafterimmunosuppressivetherapycanoccurindogsandcatswithpemphigusfoliaceus.15,67

    Mortalityfrompemphigusfoliaceuscanoccurbecauseofdiseaseprogression,medicationsideeffects,orclientrequestedeuthanasia.Severecasesofpemphigusfoliaceuscanresultinmarkedcachexiaorsepsissecondarytoinfections.Adverseeffectsarecommonwithmostofthemedicationsusedforpemphigusfoliaceus.Euthanasiaaccountedforalmost70%ofdeathsinpemphigusfoliaceusdogsinoneretrospectivestudy.51Reasonsforclientrequestedeuthanasiaincludednotbeingabletocontrolthepemphigusfoliaceus,aperceivedpoorqualityoflife,andthedevelopmentofadverseeffectsfrommedications.Forallthesereasons,pemphigusfoliaceusshouldbeconsideredapotentiallyfataldermatologiccondition.Consultationwithaspecialistorreferralcanbehelpfulwhenmanagingpemphigusfoliaceuscases.

    SUMMARY

    Pemphigusfoliaceusisapustularandcrustingautoimmunedermatologiccondition.Theprognosisforpemphigusfoliaceusindogsandcatsisvariable,andsignscanwaxandwane.Adiagnosisisbasedonthepatient'sclinicalhistory,ahistologicexaminationofskinsamples,andadiagnosticworkupthatrulesoutotherneutrophilicandpustularskinconditions.Avarietyofimmunomodulatorymedicationscanbeusedtomanagepemphigusfoliaceus.Frequentrecheckexaminationsandclientcommunicationareimportantformanagingpemphigusfoliaceus.Becauseofthepotentialforseveremedicationsideeffects,medicationsshouldbeselectedandtaperedbasedontheseverityofclinicalsigns.

    KathyC.Tater,DVM,DACVDAngellAnimalMedicalCenter350S.HuntingtonAve.Boston,MA02130

    ThierryOlivry,DrVet,PhD,DECVD,DACVDDepartmentofClinicalSciencesCollegeofVeterinaryMedicineNorthCarolinaStateUniversityRaleigh,NC27606

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