title: Keratoconjunctivitis sicca: immunological evaluation of 62 canine cases.
abstract: The etiology of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in 62 dogs was evaluated, using immunologic techniques. Using direct fluorescent antibody testing, autoantibodies within the lacrimal, salivary, or pancreatic glands were detected in 5 of 8 dogs tested. Circulating antibodies to the nictitating membrane gland, main lacrimal gland, parotid salivary gland, or mandibular salivary gland were detected using indirect fluorescent antibodies in 9 of 31, 3 of 31, 5 of 31, and 5 of 31 sera, respectively. Using radial immunodiffusion, hyper-gamma-globulinemia was detected in 21 of 30 dogs with KCS. Antinuclear antibodies, primarily in a nucleolar pattern, were demonstrated in 20 of 50 dogs with KCS. Lymphocytic infiltrates were evident in 5 of 9 labial salivary biopsies, 2 of 4 parotid gland specimens, 2 of 4 mandibular gland specimens, and 2 of 3 thyroid gland specimens taken from dogs with KCS. Autoimmune diseases had been previously documented in 4 of 62 dogs. Twenty-five of the 62 dogs (40%) had concurrent problems indicative of an underlying immunologic disorder.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007668:Kidney / Q000276:immunology; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009541:Nictitating Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000276:immunology; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000473:pathology; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007136:Immunoglobulins