Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Periostin protein may help diagnose and monitor dog skin allergies
By Kim, Keon et al.·Published in The veterinary quarterly·2025·Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Periostin: a potential biomarker for diagnosis and treatment monitoring in canine atopic dermatitis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with atopic dermatitis, a chronic skin condition that causes itching and inflammation, had their blood tested for a protein called periostin. The study found that dogs with this condition had higher levels of periostin compared to healthy dogs, and these levels were linked to how severe their skin issues were. When treated with medications like prednisolone or oclacitinib, the dogs showed a significant drop in periostin levels and improvement in their symptoms. This suggests that periostin could be a useful tool for vets to monitor the severity of atopic dermatitis and how well treatments are working.
People also search for: dog itching treatment · atopic dermatitis in dogs · prednisolone for dog skin problems · oclacitinib for dog allergies
Abstract
Canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition associated with T helper 2 (Th2)-type immune responses, and recent evidence suggests that periostin, an extracellular matrix protein, may play a role in its pathogenesis. To investigate the significance of serum periostin concentrations in dogs with cAD, this study examined their relationship with disease severity and laboratory parameters, including eosinophil counts and Th2 cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13. A total of 68 dogs diagnosed with cAD and 21 healthy controls were included, with serum periostin, IL-4, and IL-13 levels measured. Disease severity was assessed using the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI-04) and the Pruritus Visual Analog Scale (PVAS). The results showed that serum periostin concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with cAD compared to healthy controls and exhibited a positive correlation with CADESI-04 scores, reflecting disease severity. Treatment with prednisolone or oclacitinib led to a significant reduction in serum periostin, IL-4, and IL-13 levels, along with a decrease in eosinophil counts. These findings highlight the potential of serum periostin as a valuable biomarker for assessing cAD severity and monitoring treatment response, emphasizing its clinical relevance as an objective measure.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40999910/