Assessment of the relationship between transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and severity of clinical signs (CADESI-03) in atopic dogs.

BACKGROUND

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common allergic skin disease of dogs. Objective documentation of disease severity is important for the assessment of responses to therapeutic interventions. One common means of assessing the severity of clinical signs is the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI)-03. In addition, studies of the biophysical parameters of the skin suggest that assessment of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) may also have value for estimation of disease severity.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to verify the correlation between TEWL and CADESI-03 measured at 10 different body sites.

ANIMALS

Twenty-six dogs with AD (age range 1-7 years, median age 3 years).

METHODS

The assessment was performed at the following 10 body sites: the lumbar, inguinal, ventral abdominal, interdigital regions, axillary fossa, lateral thorax, lateral aspect of the antebrachium, concave surface of the auricle, cheek and bridge of the nose.

RESULTS

Positive correlations were found between TEWL and the total CADESI-03 for the auricle (r = 0.59), bridge of nose (r = 0.62) and interdigital skin (r = 0.47). Positive correlations were also observed between TEWL and local CADESI-03 scores for the axillary fossa (r = 0.73), inguinal region (r = 0.55) and interdigital skin (r = 0.77).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

The results indicate that it may be possible to use measurement of TEWL to assess the severity of skin lesions, but a positive correlation was found in only five of 10 body regions examined.