Banovic F, Olivry T, Dazzle L, Tobias JR, Atlee B, Zabel S, Hensel N, Linder KE. Clinical and microscopic characteristics of canine toxic epidermal necrolysis. Vet Pathol 2015; 52: 321-330. Abstract.
PubMed ID (PMID): 24907312
Reprints: Keith Linder
Comments: Traditionally, lesions associated with epidermal necrosis without dermal inflammation have been given the diagnosis of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) while those exhibiting lymphocyte-mediated keratinocyte apoptosis at multiple epidermal levels are deemed representative of erythema multiforme (EM). This study shows that, using biopsy material of three dogs with TEN, "EM-like" keratinocyte apoptosis also occurs in canine TEN, as it does for the human disease. As a result, histopathology cannot (and should not) be used for accurately differentiating canine EM and TEN! As for many other diseases, the diagnosis should be made instead from collating information from the history, clinical signs and histopathology.
Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
