Canine sterile neutrophilic dermatosis (resembling Sweet's syndrome) with severe extracutaneous manifestations.

INTRODUCTION: Sterile neutrophilic dermatosis is a rare disease in dogs, similar to Sweet's syndrome in humans. This case report describes the treatment of a 2-year old Bearded Collie that was presented with a 3-week history of fever, hind-limb weakness, peripheral lymphadenomegaly and leucocytosis. Blood tests revealed severe leukocytosis, renal azotaemia, elevated liver enzymes and bilirubinaemia. Skin lesions started to appear in week four. Histology revealed a sterile neutrophilic dermatitis resembling Sweet's syndrome. The dog displayed extracutaneous manifestations, including fever, polyarthritis, a severe leukemoid reaction, anaemia, hepatopathy and nephropathy. Issues regarding the use of criteria for the diagnosis of Sweet's syndrome in humans that are used for dogs with sterile neutrophilic dermatosis, are discussed in this case report. The condition resolved with dexamethasone and mycophenolate mofetil as a novel steroid-sparing therapy. Three months later the dog relapsed, which rapidly responded to short-term dexamethasone treatment and temporarily increased mycophenolate mofetil dosage.

INTRODUCTION: La dermatose neutrophilique stérile est une maladie rare chez le chien, semblable au syndrome de Sweet chez l'homme. Ce rapport de cas décrit le traitement d'un Bearded Collie de 2 ans présentant des antécédents de fièvre pendant 3 semaines, une faiblesse des membres postérieurs, une lymphadénomégalie périphérique et une leucocytose. Les analyses de sang ont révélé une leucocytose grave, une azotémie rénale, une élévation des enzymes hépatiques et une bilirubinémie. Des lésions cutanées ont commencé à apparaître à la quatrième semaine. L'histologie a révélé une dermatite neutrophilique stérile ressemblant au syndrome de Sweet. Le chien présentait des manifestations extracutanées telles que fièvre, polyarthrite, réaction leucémoïde sévère, anémie, hépatopathie et néphropathie. Les questions relatives à l'utilisation des critères de diagnostic du syndrome de Sweet chez l'homme chez les chiens atteints de dermatose neutrophilique stérile sont abordées dans le présent rapport de cas. La maladie a été traitée avec la dexaméthasone et le mycophénolate mofétil en tant que thérapie innovante permettant d'économiser des stéroïdes. Trois mois plus tard, le chien a rechuté mais a rapidement répondu à un traitement de courte durée à la dexaméthasone et à une augmentation temporairement la dose de mycophénolate mofétil.

Hypovolemia induced systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve in two dogs.

Systolic anterior (septal) motion of the mitral valve (SAM) is a common secondary phenomenon in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in people and cats. In humans, it is increasingly recognized that SAM may be found in other cardiac and non-cardiac disease states. In small animal cardiology, SAM unassociated with HCM has been described in dogs with mitral valve dysplasia and right ventricular pressure overload. In this report, we describe two cases of dogs where transient SAM was caused by hypovolemia. When SAM was present both dogs showed pseudohypertrophy and tachycardia. Important factors in the genesis of SAM in this scenario are probably hypovolemia induced changes in left ventricular geometry affecting the orientation of the mitral valve apparatus combined with elevated catecholamine levels. SAM associated with increased wall thickness is not pathognomonic of HCM; this observation is of particular clinical importance when extrapolated to species where HCM is highly prevalent, e.g., cats. An echocardiographic diagnosis should always be evaluated together with full clinical assessment of history and physical examination.