Clinical, Histopathological and Immunological Characteristics of Exfoliative Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus in 25 German Short-Haired Pointers
August 2005
in “
Veterinary dermatology
”
exfoliative cutaneous lupus erythematosus alopecia hyperkeratosis lymphocytic interface dermatitis IgG deposition epidermal basement membrane follicular basement membrane antifollicular antibodies antisebaceous gland antibodies immunosuppressive therapy ECLE hair loss skin thickening immune response
Studysummary This study demonstrates that exfoliative cutaneous lupus erythematosus in German short-haired pointers involves a cellular and humoral immune response against the epidermal basement membrane, with poor response to immunosuppressive therapy.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
In 2005, a study involving 25 German short-haired pointers found that exfoliative cutaneous lupus erythematosus (ECLE) is a hereditary disease that primarily affects young adult dogs, presenting with symptoms such as scaling in all dogs and alopecia in 76% of the cases. The condition often progresses to generalized skin lesions in 52% of the dogs, with some experiencing systemic issues like pain, lameness, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Histopathological analysis showed hyperkeratosis and lymphocytic interface dermatitis, while immunological tests revealed IgG deposition in the epidermal and follicular basement membrane in all and 41% of dogs, respectively. Circulating antifollicular and antisebaceous gland IgG antibodies were found in 57% of the dogs. The prognosis for ECLE was poor, with 85% of the dogs being euthanized due to non-responsiveness to immunosuppressive therapy or related complications, and only two dogs achieving remission. The study highlighted the immune response against the epidermal basement membrane and the need for further research into the immunopathogenesis of ECLE.
