title: Clinical and microscopic features of generalized discoid lupus erythematosus in dogs (10 cases).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Generalized discoid lupus erythematosus (GDLE) is a newly recognized canine variant of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) that is not well characterized.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We report herein the signalment, clinical signs, treatment outcome, histopathology and immunological findings of 10 dogs with GDLE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inclusion criteria were: (i) a >3 month history of generalized skin lesions indicating a chronic or recurrent nature; (ii) skin lesions resembling those of human GDLE; (iii) histopathology of CLE (lymphocyte-rich interface dermatitis). Direct immunofluorescence (IF) and antinuclear antibody serology were investigated whenever possible.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Various breeds were affected in their mid- to late adulthood. Selection criteria of generalized multifocal, annular ("discoid") to polycyclic plaques with pigment changes, erythematous margin, adherent scaling, follicular plugging and central alopecia were shown in all dogs. In nine dogs, plaques contained mild to moderate central scarring with depigmentation and/or hyperpigmentation. There were no dogs in which the disease progressed to systemic lupus erythematosus within a median follow-up of 2.5 years. Per inclusion criteria, interface dermatitis occurred with basement membrane zone (BMZ) thickening, suprabasal apoptosis and/or dermal fibrosis in some dogs. Infundibular interface folliculitis was common; it sometimes transitioned to mural folliculitis in lower follicle segments, and occurred with follicular and sebaceous gland atrophy. The direct IF revealed patchy deposition of immunoglobulin IgG and IgM at the BMZ. Lesions responded to a variety of treatments, including ciclosporin, hydroxychloroquine, topical tacrolimus and tetracycline/niacinamide. Relapses were common after medications were tapered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These observations support the existence of a canine homologue of human GDLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 2200 College Station Road, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.|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, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.
authors.forename: Frane
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Banovic
authors.affiliation: Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, 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.|Small Animal Clinic, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, Tartu, 51014, Estonia.
authors.forename: Maarja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uri
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Skin and Allergy Specialists, Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado, 3550 South Jason Street, Englewood, CO, 80110, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rossi
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, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1399-0034
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olivry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology