RESEARCH - Pet dogs owned by lupus patients are at a higher risk of developing lupus

June 24, 2008

Lupus, Vol. 13, No. 6, 442-449 (2004)

DOI: 10.1191/0961203303lu1039oa

Pet dogs owned by lupus patients are at a higher risk of developing lupus

The aim of this study is to determine whether pet dogs owned by

patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at a higher risk

of developing SLE. Diagnosis of canine SLE was mainly based on the 11

diagnostic criteria for human SLE and two marked immunological

features of canine SLE. Among 59 pet dogs owned by 37 SLE patients, 11

(18.64%) were ANA positive, and three (5.08%) had SLE. In contrast, of

187 pet dogs owned by non-SLE households, nine (4.81%) were ANA

positive, and none (0%) had SLE. Among 650 outpatient dogs registered

in the veterinary hospital, 34 (5.23%) were ANA positive, and six

(0.92%) had SLE. Frequency of ANA and SLE among pet dogs owned by SLE

patients was significantly higher than in pet dogs owned by non-SLE

households (P 1/4 0.001 for ANA; P 1/4 0.013 for SLE) and in

outpatient dogs (P, 0.001 for ANA; P 1/4 0.032 for SLE). With respect

to canine SLE development, the relative risk or risk ratio ®of human

SLE contact varied from 5.5 (compared with outpatient dogs) to near

the infinite (compared with dogs owned by non-SLE households). The

prevalence of canine SLE among pet dogs of SLE patients was therefore

estimated to be 508 per 10 000 [95% confidence interval (95% CI),

0-1068]. In conclusion, pet dogs with human SLE contact were at a

higher risk of developing SLE. Our results indicate that a common

environmental factor or zoonotic agent may be involved in the

development of human and canine SLE.

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Not an MD

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