canis - Articles
Skin: vesicular cutaneous lupus erythematosus
Synonym(s): VCLE, ulcerative dermatosis of the Shetland sheepdog and (rough) collie, UDSSC
Introduction
- Cause: idiopathic, autoimmune.
- Signs: axillary and inguinal ulcers with serpiginous, annular or polycyclic borders.
- Primarily, but not exclusively Shetland sheepdogs and rough collies.
- Diagnosis: breed, clinical signs, histopathology.
- Treatment: immunosuppressive and immunomodulating ± antimicrobial.
- Prognosis: variable response to therapy and incurable.
- Human equivalent: vesicular variant of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE).
Presenting signs
- Transient vesicles and bullae (often not observed).
- Waxing and waning, focal to serpiginous ulceration of the skin of axillary, inguinal and proximomedial hind limb areas.
- Less frequently skin of concave aspect of pinnae, mucocutaneous junctions and buccal mucosa can be involved.
- Lesions painful but non-pruritic.
Geographic incidence
- Often a summertime onset with UV light-induced relapses.
- Worldwide.
Age predisposition
- 2-11 years (mean 5 years).
Breed/Species predisposition
- Shetland sheepdogs Shetland sheepdog and rough collies Collie - Rough.
- Other breeds (author has seen two border collies Border Collie).
Cost considerations
- Variable, depending on severity, and response to treatment, commonly lifelong therapy.
Pathogenesis
Pathophysiology
- UV damage causing relocation of nuclear antigens into the cytoplasm and cell membrane.
- Antibodies against extractable nuclear antigens demonstrable in 82% cases by immunoblotting.
- Antibodies against Ro/SSA and/or La/SSB in sera in 55% cases by ELISA (cf. SCLE in man).
Timecourse
- Persistent, may wax and wane.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed Papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Olivry T, Linder K E, Banovic F (2018) Cutaneous lupus erythematosus in dogs: a comprehensive review. BMC Vet Res 14 (1), 132 PubMed.
- Lehner G M & Linek M (2013) A case of vesicular cutaneous lupus erythematosus on a Border Collie successfully treated with topical tacrolimus and nicotinamide-tetracycline. Vet Dermatol 24, 639-e160 PubMed.
- Gibson I and Barnes J (2011) Vesicular Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus in a Border Collie in New Zealand. N Z Vet J 59, 153 SciQuest.
- Font A et al (2006) Treatment with oral ciclosporin A of a case of vesicular cutaneous lupus erythematosus in a rough collie. Vet Dermatol 17, 440-442 PubMed.
- Jackson H A et al (2004) Immunopathology of vesicular cutaneous lupus erythematosus in the rough collie and Shetland sheepdog: a canine homologue of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus in humans. Vet Dermatol 15, 230-239 PubMed.
- Jackson H A (2004) Eleven cases of vesicular cutaneous lupus erythematosus in Shetland Sheepdogs and rough collies: clinical management and prognosis. Vet Dermatol 15, 37-41 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- Autoimmune and Immune-mediated Diseases. In: Miller W H, Griffin C E & Campbell K L: Muller and Kirk’s Small Animal Dermatology. 7th edn. W B Saunders, Philadelphia (2013), pp 460-461.
- Ulcerative Dermatoses. In: Nuttall T, Harvey R G, McKeever P J (eds): Skin Disease of the Dog and Cat. 2nd Ed. Manson Publishing, London, UK (2011), pp113-114.
- Riviere C (1999) Autoimmune dermatoses. In: Guagere E & Prelaud P (eds): A Practical Guide to Feline Dermatology. Merial pp 280-281.