title: Mucous membrane pemphigoid in dogs: a retrospective study of 16 new cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is a chronic autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease of dogs, cats and humans.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to describe the clinical, histological and immunological features and treatment outcomes of canine MMP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen dogs were diagnosed with MMP based on the presence of mucosal- or mucocutaneous-predominant vesiculation and/or ulceration, histological confirmation of subepidermal clefting and an age of disease onset greater than 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six of 16 dogs (38%) were German shepherd dogs and their crosses. The median age of disease onset was 6 years (range: 1-10 years). At the time of presentation, the dogs exhibited erosions and ulcers in the oral cavity (11 of 16; 69%), nasal (nine of 16; 56%), periocular (eight of 16; 50%) and genital (six of 16; 38%) regions. Haired skin lesions were less frequent (six of 16; 38%) and involved mostly concave pinnae. Information on treatment outcome was available for 11 dogs (69%). A complete remission (CR) of lesions was achieved in 10 of 11 dogs (91%). The median time to CR was 33 weeks (range: 6-64 weeks). Treatment regimens varied widely but six of 10 (60%) dogs received a combination of tetracycline antibiotic and niacinamide alone, or with another drug, at the time of CR. Forty percent of the dogs in which CR had occurred experienced lesion relapse upon drug dose reduction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Canine MMP is a chronic and relapsing disease requiring long term treatment. Combination therapy is often needed to achieve CR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.
authors.forename: Heng L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Tham
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.|Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olivry
authors.affiliation: Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.|Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.
authors.forename: Keith E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Linder
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA. pbiziko@ncsu.edu.|Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA. pbiziko@ncsu.edu.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bizikova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010390:Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013754:Tetracyclines / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013754:Tetracyclines