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| Histologic changes are non-specific but include acanthosis, a mixed mononuclear perivascular dermatitis, sebaceous gland metaplasia and secondary superficial pyoderma<sup>1</sup>. | | Histologic changes are non-specific but include acanthosis, a mixed mononuclear perivascular dermatitis, sebaceous gland metaplasia and secondary superficial pyoderma<sup>1</sup>. |
| | | |
− | == Treatment == | + | ==Treatment== |
| + | |
| + | ===Flare factors=== |
| + | ====Ectoparasites==== |
| | | |
− | Flare factors
| |
− | Ectoparasites
| |
| Fleas and Neotrombicula frequently complicate | | Fleas and Neotrombicula frequently complicate |
| AD. Atopic dogs can also contract Sarcoptes. | | AD. Atopic dogs can also contract Sarcoptes. |
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| pyoderma, however, can benefit from long term | | pyoderma, however, can benefit from long term |
| pulse antibiotic therapy. | | pulse antibiotic therapy. |
− | Stress | + | |
| + | ====Stress==== |
| Stress can exacerbate human inflammatory dermatoses, | | Stress can exacerbate human inflammatory dermatoses, |
| and this may be true in animals. There is | | and this may be true in animals. There is |
| anecdotal evidence that behavioral therapy and | | anecdotal evidence that behavioral therapy and |
| pheromones can help. | | pheromones can help. |
− | Environmental effects | + | |
| + | ====Environmental effects==== |
| Excesses of temperature and humidity, irritant | | Excesses of temperature and humidity, irritant |
| surfaces or cleaning solutions etc. can all worsen | | surfaces or cleaning solutions etc. can all worsen |
| skin diseases. Observant owners will often report | | skin diseases. Observant owners will often report |
| associations. | | associations. |
− | Improving skin barrier function | + | |
− | Diet and the skin | + | ===Improving skin barrier function=== |
| + | |
| + | ====Diet and the skin==== |
| Many atopic animals non-specifically improve | | Many atopic animals non-specifically improve |
| following food trials, probably because high quality, | | following food trials, probably because high quality, |
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| Support diets significantly ameliorated clinical | | Support diets significantly ameliorated clinical |
| signs in atopic dogs. | | signs in atopic dogs. |
− | Topical therapy | + | |
| + | ====Topical therapy==== |
| Topical therapy has a number of benefits although | | Topical therapy has a number of benefits although |
| it is time-consuming. Physical removal of allergens | | it is time-consuming. Physical removal of allergens |
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| prepared to try different products and/or alternate | | prepared to try different products and/or alternate |
| between antimicrobial and emollient shampoos. | | between antimicrobial and emollient shampoos. |
− | Essential fatty acids (EFA) | + | |
| + | ====Essential fatty acids (EFA)==== |
| Numerous clinical trials and studies have evaluated | | Numerous clinical trials and studies have evaluated |
| EFAs particularly the n-3 EFA eicosapentenoic acid | | EFAs particularly the n-3 EFA eicosapentenoic acid |
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| much of this is due to anti-inflammatory activity | | much of this is due to anti-inflammatory activity |
| or cutaneous barrier improvements is unclear (4). | | or cutaneous barrier improvements is unclear (4). |
− | Allergen specific therapy | + | |
| + | ===Allergen specific therapy=== |
| Allergen specific therapy will only be appropriate | | Allergen specific therapy will only be appropriate |
| in animals with identified sensitivities. The aim of | | in animals with identified sensitivities. The aim of |
| allergen testing is to identify allergens for avoidance | | allergen testing is to identify allergens for avoidance |
| and immunotherapy, not to confirm the diagnosis. | | and immunotherapy, not to confirm the diagnosis. |
− | Allergen avoidance | + | |
| + | ====Allergen avoidance==== |
| Allergen avoidance measures can result in a significant | | Allergen avoidance measures can result in a significant |
| reduction in exposure to house dust mite (5). | | reduction in exposure to house dust mite (5). |
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| significant improvement is controversial, although | | significant improvement is controversial, although |
| one uncontrolled study demonstrated that allergen | | one uncontrolled study demonstrated that allergen |
− | avoidance was beneficial in canine AD (6). Allergen specific immunotherapy (ASIT) | + | avoidance was beneficial in canine AD (6). |
| + | |
| + | ====Allergen specific immunotherapy (ASIT)==== |
| ASIT involves the administration of gradually | | ASIT involves the administration of gradually |
| increasing amounts of allergen by subcutaneous | | increasing amounts of allergen by subcutaneous |
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| too high although mild reactions can sometimes be | | too high although mild reactions can sometimes be |
| managed with antihistamines. | | managed with antihistamines. |
− | Anti-inflammatory therapy | + | |
| + | ===Anti-inflammatory therapy=== |
| Anti-inflammatory therapy is used as required | | Anti-inflammatory therapy is used as required |
| to control residual pruritus and inflammation. | | to control residual pruritus and inflammation. |
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| and/or potency of drugs can be reduced if other | | and/or potency of drugs can be reduced if other |
| treatments are successful in the long term. | | treatments are successful in the long term. |
− | Cyclosporine | + | |
| + | ====Cyclosporine==== |
| Cyclosporine suppresses T-cells, which have been | | Cyclosporine suppresses T-cells, which have been |
| implicated in the pathogenesis of canine AD. | | implicated in the pathogenesis of canine AD. |
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| pros and cons for each individual case should | | pros and cons for each individual case should |
| be discussed with the owner. | | be discussed with the owner. |
− | Tacrolimus
| + | |
− | Tacrolimus has a similar mechanism of action to
| + | ====Phytopica™==== |
− | cyclosporine. A 0.1% tacrolimus ointment lead
| |
− | to a greater than 50% improvement in 70-75% of
| |
− | atopic dogs with localized lesions in two trials
| |
− | (12,13). Plasma levels remained low throughout
| |
− | and no adverse effects apart from minor self
| |
− | trauma immediately after application were seen.
| |
− | Phytopica™ | |
| Phytopica™, a compound derived from Rehmannia | | Phytopica™, a compound derived from Rehmannia |
| glutinosa, Paeonia lactiflora and Glycyrrhiza | | glutinosa, Paeonia lactiflora and Glycyrrhiza |
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| safety profile than has been reported for other | | safety profile than has been reported for other |
| anti-inflammatory therapies (16). | | anti-inflammatory therapies (16). |
− | Glucocorticoids | + | |
| + | ====Glucocorticoids==== |
| Corticosteroids, synthesized in the adrenal cortex, | | Corticosteroids, synthesized in the adrenal cortex, |
| have glucocorticoid (anti-inflammatory and | | have glucocorticoid (anti-inflammatory and |
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| clinical signs if cyclosporine has to be withdrawn | | clinical signs if cyclosporine has to be withdrawn |
| because of routine vaccination. | | because of routine vaccination. |
− | Hydrocortisone aceponate | + | |
| + | ====Hydrocortisone aceponate==== |
| Hydrocortisone aceponate is a novel topical | | Hydrocortisone aceponate is a novel topical |
| diester glucocorticoid for the treatment of pruritus | | diester glucocorticoid for the treatment of pruritus |
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| other day therapy. Twice weekly administration, | | other day therapy. Twice weekly administration, |
| however, resulted in a relapse in most dogs. | | however, resulted in a relapse in most dogs. |
− | Antihistamines | + | |
| + | ====Antihistamines==== |
| A large review of clinical trials (16) concluded | | A large review of clinical trials (16) concluded |
| that there is no more than fair evidence of | | that there is no more than fair evidence of |
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| are more common and include gastrointestinal | | are more common and include gastrointestinal |
| tract upsets and cardiac arrhythmias. | | tract upsets and cardiac arrhythmias. |
− | Other therapeutic options
| |
− | Phosphodiesterase inhibitors improve peripheral
| |
− | blood flow and oxygenation, and are immunomodulating.
| |
− | There is fair evidence for medium
| |
− | efficacy of pentoxifylline (10 mg/kg 2-3 times
| |
− | daily) and medium to high efficacy of arofylline
| |
− | (1 mg/kg twice daily) (16). Arofylline caused
| |
− | frequent vomiting, but no adverse effects were
| |
− | seen with pentoxifylline.
| |
− | Misoprostol is a prostaglandin E1 analogue that
| |
− | inhibits activation of basophils, mast cells and
| |
− | eosinophils, blunting late-phase inflammatory
| |
− | reactions. Two studies have provided fair evidence
| |
− | of medium efficacy in canine AD at 6-10 μg/kg
| |
− | three times daily (16). Misoprostol was well
| |
− | tolerated with only minor gastrointestinal tract
| |
− | signs reported.
| |
| | | |
| ==Prognosis== | | ==Prognosis== |