Feline Immune-Mediated Skin Disease Study Guide

Overview and Clinical Importance

Immune-mediated skin diseases in cats represent a spectrum of disorders characterized by dysregulation of the normal immune response, resulting in cutaneous inflammation and tissue damage. These conditions, while relatively rare (accounting for less than 1% of feline dermatological cases), present significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for veterinary practitioners.

The pathogenesis of these conditions involves either autoantibody-mediated damage (as seen in the pemphigus complex) or autoreactive T-lymphocyte infiltration (as observed in cutaneous lupus erythematosus). Understanding the underlying mechanisms is essential for appropriate diagnosis and management.

Pemphigus Foliaceus (PF)

Pemphigus foliaceus is an autoimmune, vesicobullous to pustular skin disease characterized by autoantibody attack on desmosomal proteins, leading to acantholysis (loss of keratinocyte adhesion) in the superficial epidermis.