Type III hypersensitivity reaction with immune complex deposition in 2 critically ill dogs administered human serum albumin.
OBJECTIVE
To describe 2 cases of vasculitis that were attributed to a type III hypersensitivity reaction in critically ill dogs occurring 8-16 days postadministration of human serum albumin (HSA).


METHODS
Skin biopsies were obtained from 3 different sites in 2 critically ill dogs that developed vasculitis 8-16 days following treatment with HSA. Histopathological findings from both dogs indicated epidermal pallor, widespread edema and hemorrhage, degenerative neutrophilic perivascular infiltrates, and multifocal areas of neutrophilic or leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Immunohistochemical staining using an anti-human serum albumin rabbit antibody suggested that the antigen-antibody complexes seen in the dermis were associated with the administration of HSA.


CONCLUSIONS
In this case series, we documented a leukocytoclastic vasculitis and probable antigen-antibody complexes to human albumin in the dermis of 2 critically ill dogs after administration of HSA. Previously, type III hypersensitivity reactions had only been reported in healthy dogs that had received HSA. This report also describes the potential use of immunohistochemical staining to detect the HSA antigen in tissue sections through the use of specifically labeled antibodies.
VCA All Care Animal Referral Center, Fountain Valley, CA, 92708.
Cassandra
C
Powell
Lisa
L
Thompson
Robert J
RJ
Murtaugh
D000818:Animals; D016638:Critical Illness; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*
D012709:Serum Albumin
canine; complication; drug-reaction; immunohistochemistry; vasculitis