Aging-associated perifollicular changes and calcium deposition in poodles.

BACKGROUND

It is commonly accepted that canine dystrophic mineralization of the hair follicle glassy membrane can be seen in hyperadrenocorticism and as a senile change in poodles. Pathology textbooks define this change as deposition of calcium salts in the form of basophilic, amorphous, granular material along collagen fibrils.

HYPOTHESIS/

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to evaluate whether the incidence of the lesion is specific to poodles and if it is always associated with calcium deposition.

ANIMALS: One hundred and forty-seven dogs divided into three groups: (i) 91 normal poodles; (ii) 40 dogs of other breeds; and (iii) 16 dogs with clinical/histopathological diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Retrospective study; with haematoxylin and eosin, and von Kossa staining.

RESULTS

Our findings demonstrate that perifollicular changes of the hair follicle glassy membrane of poodles are not always associated with calcium deposition.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL

IMPORTANCE

A specific staining is needed to identify true calcium deposition when performing histological examination of the skin of poodles.