title: Feline pemphigus foliaceus: a retrospective analysis of 57 cases.
abstract: Fifty-seven cases of feline pemphigus foliaceus were identified from biopsy specimens submitted to University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's Laboratory of Pathology and Toxicology by veterinary dermatologists from 1991 to 2002. Age at onset ranged from less than 1 year to 17 years; median 5 years. Eighty per cent of cats were reported to have been pruritic. At the time of biopsy, the distribution of lesions varied, but included some combination of face/head, paws, dorsum or ventrum and consisted of crusts, erosions, scale and alopecia. The histological features of 208 biopsy specimens were reviewed and included the following. Acantholytic cells were found in large numbers in both intact and degenerating pustules in most cases. Mast cells were found in the dermal infiltrate more often than reported previously. Seventeen cases were receiving corticosteroids at the time of biopsy; reducing the percentage of diagnostic biopsies per case. Forty-four cases were followed for 1-54 months (median 9 months). Triamcinolone was more successful at inducing remission without significant adverse effects than prednisone or prednisone in combination with chlorambucil. Only 4/44 cats died from their disease or therapy during the study period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. dermsurgAK@aol.com
authors.forename: Diane E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Preziosi
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Goldschmidt
authors.forename: Jean S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Greek
authors.forename: Jim G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Jeffers
authors.forename: Kevin S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Shanley
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Drobatz
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mauldin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015143:Philadelphia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D014221:Triamcinolone