Acquired Skin Fragility Syndrome with Malabsorption, Protein-losing Glomerulonephritis and Cholangiohatitis in a Cat

Abstract

A 12-year-old male domestic short-hair cat was presented with a sudden laceration of the lumbar skin. The lumbar skin showed irregular tears and shedding as a large sheet. Histopathological examination of the skin revealed atrophic epidermis with hyperkeratosis, and decreased and fragmented collagen fibers in the dermis. A diagnosis of acquired skin fragility syndrome was consequently made. The present case died of asthenia with an eating disorder due to a large mandibular abscess. Necropsy and histopathological examination revealed that the cat had cholangiohepatitis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and intestinal villi fibrosis as complications of the skin lesion. Clinical improvement of the skin lesion was found after treatment with a digestive enzyme compound agent administered in consideration of the malabsorption. Therefore, malabsorption might be closely related to the skin lesion of the present case.