Über den Einfluss von mehrfach ungesättigten Fettsäuren auf kutane Mastzellen und eosinophile Granulozyten bei Hunden mit atopischer Dermatitis

The aim of this double-blinded, randomised and placebo-controlled
study was to assess the potential influence of polyunsaturated
fatty acids on the inflammatory infiltrate in the skin of
twenty-eight mixed breed dogs diagnosed with atopic dermatitis. The
animals ranged from 1 to 10 years of age. They were assigned to one
of three groups and supplemented for ten weeks with flax seed oil,
a commercial fatty acid product or a placebo. Skin punch biopsy
specimens from the lateral thorax were taken prior to and at the
end of the trial. Clinical signs as well as pruritus intensity were
evaluated by owner pruritus scores and clinician lesion scores. The
number of mast cells and eosinophils per mm2 within the epidermis
and dermis were quantified before and after supplementation by
utilisation of Image Analysis Software. There was no significant
difference between cell counts before and after the study nor when
comparing groups amongst themselves. However, a positive
correlation between cell counts and the pruritus intensity as well
as cell counts and clinical signs was observed.