The cats had received glucocorticoids and azathioprine for the last 12 years of life and died from an unrelated diseases. Pemphigus Vulgaris Pemphigus vulgaris is a very rare autoimmune skin disease of cats. The disease is caused by the development of autoantibodies against the intercellular substance of the stratified squamous epithelium. Pemphigus vulgaris is characterized by a lack of cohesion of epidermal cells and by an inflammatory response in the deeper layers of the epidermis, accounting for the different clinical signs observed in pemphigus vulgaris versus pemphigus foliaceous. Clinically, cats with pemphigus vulgaris present with vesicles, ulceration, erosions, and crusts on the mucocutaneous junctions.
Cats are often anorectic, febrile, and depressed.
Definitive diagnosis may be very difficult as the most revealing lesions to biopsy are vesicles, which are extremely transient. Cats with suspected autoimmune skin diseases should be hospitalized and examined every few hours for the development of vesicles or pustules. This is time-consuming but very cost effective when the costs of inappropriate diagnostics and therapy are considered. The classic histologic findings in pemphigus vulgaris include suprabasilar pustules with acantholytic cells. The prognosis for cats with pemphigus vulgaris is guarded.