Canine Atopic Dermatitis: Facts, Fiction and Future Perspectives on Therapy

Canine atopic dermatitis (CaD is a multifactorial disease. the interplay of several factors such as the immune system, an impaired skin barrier function, environmental factors, microbial factors and genetic factors induce the clinical signs of CaD. although some aspects of the pathogenesis were elucidated, the exact pathogenesis of this complex disease is still not known. the role of antigen specific-igE in canine aD is not clear, which is underlined by the fact that healthy dogs have comparable levels and frequency of allergen-specific igE compared to dogs with CaD (1).

A multimodal treatment is necessary to manage CaD patients. thus far we are usually addressing the skin inflammation, microbial infections and may be even try to restore the skin surface. pruritus, the hallmark sign of CaD, is treated primarily through decreas- ing the skin inflammatory reaction. recent research in humans and dogs is now more focusing on the pathomechanism of pruritus, in order to develop new tools to manage this disease and break the vicious circle of impaired skin barrier, skin inflammation, neu- ronal stimulation and licking, scratching and biting leading to damage of the skin sur- face. therapy of pruritus per se may offer also more insight into the pathogenesis of CaD and decrease the need for immunomodulating drugs and antimicrobial therapy. the drug oclacitinib, specifically targeting interleukin 31 (the “itch” cytokine), was recently developed for therapy of CaD in dogs and results of efficacy studies are very promising (2). [...]