title: Successful intravenous human immunoglobulin treatment of drug-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome in a dog.
abstract: A two-year-old, male English springer spaniel developed severe mucocutaneous ulceration following treatment with trimethoprim-potentiated sulphadiazine. The clinical signs were consistent with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS): there were no target or arciform lesions typical of erythema multiforme minor and major; more than one mucosal surface was affected; epidermal detachment affected less than 10 per cent of the body surface area; and there was a clear history of drug exposure. Systemic signs included a severe hepatopathy, dyspnoea, pyrexia and cachexia. Glucocorticoid therapy was associated with secondary infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The clinical signs rapidly resolved following a single intravenous infusion of 0.51 g/kg human immunoglobulin (ivHIG) as a 5 per cent solution. By blocking FAS/FAS ligand (CD95/CD95L) interactions, ivHIG is thought to prevent keratinocyte apoptosis. It also binds to immunoglobulin G Fc receptors, inhibiting cell activation and cytokine synthesis, neutralises autoantibodies and immune complexes, blocks complement activity, is antimicrobial and increases colloid osmotic pressure. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of successful treatment of canine SJS using ivHIG, although it has been used to treat erythema multiforme in a cat and toxic epidermal necrolysis in a dog.
authors.affiliation: University of Liverpool Small Animal Hospital, Crown Street, Liverpool L7 7EX.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Nuttall
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Malham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination