Vetnews May 2020: Managing Canine and Feline Atopic Dermatitis

Introduction

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic multifactorial inflammatory skin disease. The pathogenesis of AD remains unclear, but the disease results from dysfunctions of skin barrier and immune response, where both genetic and environmental factors play a key role. Recent studies demonstrate the substantial evidence that shows a strong genetic association with AD. Immune system plays a key role in the pathogenesis of AD. It is a heritable disease in which affected dogs develop immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to environmental allergens.   Aeroallergens enter the body via the percutaneous route. Once in the epidermis these bind with Langerhans cells which present it to naïve T cells in the draining lymph nodes.