Bullous pemphigoid in the horse: pathogenesis, diagnostic procedures and therapy

Bullous pemphigoid in the horse is a rare autoimmune, vesiculobullous to ulcerative disorder of the skin or mucosa. It is characterized by clefting beneath the dermal-epidermal junction and the deposition of immunoglobulins and complement along the basement membrane of basal epithelial cells. The definitive diagnosis is made by immunofluorescent studies and histologic evaluation of skin biopsies from fresh lesions. Therapy is directed at the suppression of the immune response. Glucocorticosteroids, azathioprine and aurothioglucose are commonly used to induce remission, although response is variable.