LUPOID DERMATOSIS

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. An 11 moth old intact male German Short Hair Pointer presented with extremely flaky skin all over his whole body. The owner had reported that the dog had had the same appearance to his skin ever since the dog was obtained at 12 weeks of age. Despite all types of shampoos, steroids, and antibiotics, the condition remained the same. At times, the lesions on his nose and face would get worse, only to get better again, but would never resolve. On examination, the dog appeared physically healthy except for the dander covering his whole body. There were some crusty lesions on his nose and on his scrotum. Three biopsies from the forehead, thorax and lumbar region were obtained. There was hyperkeratosis and focal parakeratosis. Basal cell apoptosis was diffusely scattered throughout the tissues. There was also basal cell vacuolation and large numbers of melanophages within the dermis. There was a minimal lymphocytic infiltrate, which should he seen with lupus in dogs. However, on consultation with the dermatopathologists at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, a diagnosis of lupus of the skin was confirmed. This dog was donated to the University of Pennsylvania. He is to be used for breeding to expand the colony. In the meantime, we have received three more German shorthair pointers that are affected with lupoid dermatosis, two females and one male. Both dogs are also to be used for breeding to expand the colony, All of the histopathological evaluations are being performed by Dr. Elizabeth Mauldin, a board certified veterinary dermatologist and pathologist. Dr Mauldin and I applied for and received a small grant from Novartis for therapeutic trials of oral cyclosporine (Atopica), an immune modulator thought to reduce or eliminate cellular reactions in the dermis, which appear to cause the disease. Biopsies and photographs are being taken at monthly intervals and the results will be summarized and presented to Novartis after 12 months of treatment. The results will be published after completion of the study. We have also received numerous skin biopsies and blood samples from affected dogs and their relatives for histopathology and DNA, respectively