Topical Polyhydroxy Acid Treatment for Autosomal Recessive Congenital Ichthyosis in the Golden Retriever: A Prospective Pilot Study

The study investigated the efficacy of a topical treatment containing gluconolactone for autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI) in 16 golden retrievers with a PNPLA1 gene mutation. The treatment regimen involved using a shampoo and lotion initially twice weekly, then once weekly, and finally once monthly. Results showed a significant reduction in the extent and size of scales by 60% and 75% after 14 and 30 days, respectively (P < 0.001). In 20% of the dogs, scaling was completely resolved after 30 days. No other skin lesions or pruritus were observed, and post-treatment biopsies indicated normalization of the stratum corneum and reduced hyperpigmentation. The study concluded that frequent use of gluconolactone-based products could effectively improve skin scaling in golden retrievers with ARCI.