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Updated: Apr 20, 2026
Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering
Published on: October 12, 2012
Canine pemphigus foliaceus with concurrent immune-mediated thrombocytopenia
Shinpei Kawarai1, Masaharu Hisasue, Shinobu Matsuura
1From Laboratory of Small Animal Clinics, Veterinary Teaching Hospital (S.K., T.I., H.M.) and Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine II (M.H., Y.I., S.N., R.T.), Laboratory of Veterinary Surgery I (Y.F.), and Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology (K.S.), Department of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan; and Center for Advanced Biomedical Research, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA (S.M.).
Abstract:
A 3 yr old wirehaired fox terrier was presented to his primary care veterinarian with fever, thrombocytopenia, and generalized crusting dermatitis. The skin lesion had progressed for at least 18 days, and thrombocytopenia had developed 3 days before presentation. Histopathology and direct immunofluorescence studies of the skin were consistent with pemphigus foliaceus (PF). Immunofluorescence revealed immunoglobulin G deposition around the keratinocytes in the stratum spinosum. A diagnosis of immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMT) was confirmed by the presence of platelet surface-associated immunoglobulin using flow cytometry. Systemic immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporine and azathioprine was effective, and the dog survived for >2 years from the initial presentation. IMT is rarely associated with PF. This appears to be the first detailed report of a definitive diagnosis of concurrent PF and IMT in a dog. The authors' findings indicate that canine PF could be complicated by hematologic immune-mediated diseases such as IMT.
