Dermatology Flashcards
what is immune mediated skin disease?
immune system fails to tolerate self-antigens and mounts a response against them
what are the two types of immune mediated skin disease?
primary - idiopathic
secondary - exogenous trigger
why are primary lesions usually to detect?
much narrower list of differentials than secondary lesions
what are the main diagnostics tests for immune mediated skin disease?
lesion cytology
skin biopsy/histopathology
haematology, biochemistry
urinalysis
diagnostic imaging
what are the advantages of cytology for diagnosis of immune mediated skin disease?
easy, cheap, rapid
differentiate sterile from septic (infectious disease)
determine inflammation type
what are the two different sample techniques for cytology of immune mediated skin disease?
direct impression smear (apply slide, dry, diff quik)
FNA
what lesions are direct impression smears useful for?
pustules, exudative lesions, draining tracts
what is needed for a diagnostic sample using skin biopsy/histopathology?
> 3 biopsies
primary lesions
range of lesions samples
entire lesion sampled if possible
avoid ulcerated lesions
what are the most common primary skin lesions seen with immune mediated skin disease?
pustules
plaques/nodules
erythematous macules/patches
hypopigmented macules/patches
are erosions, ulcers and crust primary or secondary lesions?
secondary
what pathology causes erosions/ulcers?
keratinocyte death
loss of keratinocyte adhesions
self trauma (pruritic)
secondary bacterial infection
what are crusts?
dried exudate on skin surface
what can crusts arise from?
pus (pustules)
exudate (erosions/ulcers)
blood
what are the list of differentials for a pustule?
bacterial infection
pemphigus foliaceus
superficial pustular drug reaction (rare)
superficial pustular dermatophytosis (rare)
what immune mediated skin diseases cause pustules?
pemphigus foliaceus
superficial pustular drug reaction (rare)
what is the distribution of lesions for pemphigus foliaceus?
muzzle
eyes
ears
footpads
(generalised)
what are acantholytic keratinocytes?
large rounded epithelial cells (limited number of diseases associated with these)
what skin diseases are acantholytic keratinocytes associated with?
pemphigus foliaceus
rare infectious diseases
why do acantholytic keratinocytes form with pemphigus foliaceus?
auto-immune antibodies target desmosomes that link keratinocytes which causes separation and loss of cell structure
what is the most common autoimmune skin disease of dogs?
pemphigus foliaceus
what is the signalment of dogs effected with pemphigus foliaceus?
middle aged
breeds - spaniel, dachshund, chow chow, akita…
is pemphigus foliaceus pruritic?
variable pruritis (tends to have more if eosinophils are present)
what is the history/signalment for eosinophilic furunculosis of the face?
young adults
rapid onset and intense pruritis
what is the lesion morphology for eosinophilic furunculosis?
eroded/ulcerated plaques and nodules
what is the signalment and history of sterile granulomatous dermatitis and lymphadenitis?
puppies (sporadic adult cases)
acute onset, non-pruritic, painful, pyrexia, lethargy
what is the morphology of sterile granulomatous dermatitis and lymphadenitis lesions?
follicular nodules/plaques
alopecia
diffuse swelling
lymphadenomegaly
what is the main cause of non-immune mediated causes of hypopigmentation, erythematous macules and patches?
hypersensitivity reactions
what are the different variants of cutaneous lupus erythematosus?
rapid onset -vesicular
chronic onset - facial discoid lupus erythematosus, generalised, mucocutaneous, exfoliative
what is the most common cutaneous lupus erythematosus?
facial discoid lupus erythematosus
what breeds are predisposed to facial discoid lupus erythematosus?
German shepherds
what are the lesions of facial discoid lupus?
loss of cobblestone nasal planum
hypo pigmented macules/patches
erosions, ulcers, crusting
black to blue to pink pigment change
what are the most common two forms of erythema multiforme?
major and minor
what is the history associated with erythema multiforme?
acute onset, non-pruritic with possible systemic signs
possible trigger - drug, virus, vaccine, neoplasia…
what is the primary lesion of erythema multiforme?
annular erythematous macule
what is the distribution of erythema multiforme?
usually ventral abdomen (can be generalised)
what disease are target lesions associated with?
erythema multiforme
what are target lesions?
erythematous macules that spread peripherally producing an annular pattern
central erythema then ring of clear oedema then ring of erythema
what is seen on cytology of erythema multiforme?
sterile non-specific inflammation (can’t use this to diagnose it)
what is the main histopathological finding of erythema multiforme?
keratinocyte apoptosis (this determines the severity)
what age dogs are effected by hyperkeratotic erythema multiforme?
older
what are the types of erythema multiforme?
minor
major
Steven-johnson syndrome
toxic epidermal necrolysis
(in order of severity)
what is the signalment and history of uveodermatologic syndrome?
young to middle aged
acute bilateral uveitis and non-pruritic
what breed is predisposed to uveodermatologic syndrome?
Akita
what is the most common lesion seen with uveodermatologic syndrome?
hypopigmented macules
what are some immune mediated disease that cause alopecia?
sebaceous adenitis
alopecia areata
dermatomyositis
ischaemic dermatopathy
what should be done to rule out demodicosis or dermatophytosis as a cause of alopecia?
trichography
what are the lesions associated with sebaceous adenitis?
partial alopecia and generalised poor coat quality
follicular casts/scale
what is the histopathological changes seen with sebaceous adenitis?
pyogranulomatous inflammation targeting sebaceous glands
what is the lesion morphology of alopecia areata?
foal/multifocal patches of alopecia with possible erythema
what is the classic histopathological finding of alopecia areata?
lymphocytic destruction of hair bulbs
where is the typical distribution of alopecia areata?
head/face
what is canine atopic dermatitis?
genetically predisposed inflammatory and pruritic allergic skin disease associated with IgE antibodies most commonly to environmental allergens
what are the four factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of CAD?
cutaneous inflammation and pruritis
defective skin barrier
microbial colonisation
other flare factors
what is CAD?
canine atopic dermatitis
how does the defective skin barrier contribute to CAD?
increased transepidermal water loss
wide intercellular spaces between corneocytes
disorganised/fragmented lipid matrix
decreased protein/lipids
why does microbial colonisation occur in cases of CAD?
increased binding sites from inflammation
reduced barrier function from lipid/protein
damaged skin surface (self trauma)
dysbiosis
what is dysbiosis associated with CAD?
changed patterns of bacterial colonisation on the skin creating reduced diversity and imbalance of commensals
what are the most common secondary microbial colonisations for dogs with CAD?
Staphylococcal
Malassezia dermatitis
what is the recurrent microbial colonisation of CAD cases called?
atopic flares (causes further inflammation and pruritis)
what are common causes of atopic flares?
bacterial and yeast infection
seasonal increases/changes in allergens
ectoparasite infection
reduction of therapy
what is the typical history of CAD patients?
pruritis (seasonal, perennial, with) - itch that rashes
<3 years old (<1 for food allergy)
breed predispositions
what are the compatible clinical signs of CAD?
pruritis - licking, chewing, grooming…
erythema and papules
what is used to measure pruritits?
pruritis visual analogue scale (grades the itch)
what are secondary skin lesions of CAD usually due to?
self trauma
what secondary skin lesions are associated with CAD?
otitis
alopecia
excoriations
salivary staining
lichenification
pustules, epidermal collarettes, crusts
hyperpigmentation
what is the distribution of CAD lesions?
face/chin
periorbital areas
ears
elbow creases
feet
ventral abdomen
perianal area
what are favrots criteria?
onset of signs is under three years old
mainly indoor dogs
glucocorticoid responsive pruritis
itch before lesions
affected front feet/ear pinnae
non-affected ear margins
non-affected dorso-lumbar area
how is favrots criteria used?
the more signs the higher the chance of CAD
what are some differentials for pruritis in dogs?
ectoparasites
allergic skin disease (CAD, contact dermatitis)
microbial infection
Malassezia dermatitis
others - Pemphigus foliaceus…
is atopic dermatitis an outside in or an inside out disease?
inside out
what is done to rule out ectoparasites in cases of suspected CAD?
diagnostic tests and treatment trials
why are treatment trials needed to exclude ectoparasites from your differential diagnosis list for CAD?
some parasites live in the environment or are rare to find on the patient
what drug group is used for treatment trials for ectoparasites?
isoxazoline
what are some hints that CAD might be food induced?
concurrent GI signs
non-seasonal
very young dogs
pruritis is poorly responsive to steroid
what is the only way to diagnose a food allergy inducing CAD?
elimination novel diet trial
what are the two options of diet trials?
home cooked
commercial hydrolysed diet
what are some problems associated with home cooked diets for novel diet trials?
identifying appropriate
unsuitable for longterm for growing animals
labour intensive
palatability issues
GI upset
cost
how do hydrolysed protein diets work for food trials?
assumes there is a type 1 hypersensitivity so protein is chopped up so small the allergen doesn’t create a reaction
how long should a diet trial be done for?
minimum of 6-8 weeks
what should be used for 2-3 weeks at the start of a food trial?
steroids or oclacitinib