Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
More mast cells found in soft palate of dogs with brachycephalic
By Pérez López, Pablo et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2023·Pride Veterinary Centre, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Assessment of the number of mast cells in the soft palate of dogs affected by brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), which causes breathing difficulties, was found to have a higher number of mast cells in their soft palate compared to healthy greyhounds. Mast cells can contribute to inflammation and swelling, which may worsen the breathing problems associated with BOAS. The study suggests that these increased mast cells could be linked to the airway issues in affected dogs. Understanding this relationship may help veterinarians better manage BOAS in brachycephalic breeds.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Oedema is described in the soft palate of dogs affected by brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). Activated mast cells (MCs) release vasoactive mediators that temporarily increase vascular permeability. METHODS: Data and caudal soft palate tissue were prospectively collected from a population of dogs undergoing surgical management of BOAS and a control group of greyhound cadavers with no previous history of respiratory signs. Histological assessment was performed to quantify the number of MCs within the lamina propria of each group. RESULTS: The mean number of MCs in the BOAS group (53 MCs/10 400× high-power fields [HPF]; standard deviation [SD] = 23) was significantly greater than that in the greyhound group (24 MCs/10 400×HPF; SD = 10). LIMITATIONS: The small size of the control group and the heterogeneous nature of the dogs in the BOAS group limit the generalisability of the findings. The use of different surgical techniques in the BOAS group may have also affected the degree of inflammation present within the samples. The cohort was not screened for concurrent disease processes that could potentially increase the number of circulating MCs. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the numbers of MCs in the soft palate of brachycephalic dogs with clinically significant BOAS and the greyhound control group.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36951103/