Autoimmune Conditions Affecting the Mouth
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Pemphigus vulgaris (PV):
Autoimmune disease characterized histologically by intraepithelial blister formation (after breakdown or loss of intercellular adhesion), biochemically by evidence of circulating autoantibodies against components of the epithelial desmosome-tonofilament complexes, and clinically by the presence of vesiculobullous and/or ulcerative oral and mucocutaneous lesions
Bullous pemphigoid (BUP):
Autoimmune disease characterized histologically by subepithelial clefting (separation at the epithelium-connective tissue interface), biochemically by evidence of circulating autoantibodies against components of the basement membrane, and clinically by the presence of erythematous, erosive, vesiculobullous and/or ulcerative oral lesions
Lupus erythematosis (LE):
Autoimmune disease characterized histologically by basal cell destruction, hyperkeratosis, epithelial atrophy, subepithelial and perivascular lymphocytic infiltration and vascular dilation with submucosal edema, biochemically by the evidence of circulating autoantibodies against various cellular antigens in both the nucleus and cytoplasm, and clinically by the presence of acute lesions (systemic LE) to skin, mucosa and multiple organs or chronic lesions (discoid LE) mostly confined to the skin of the face and mucosa of the oral cavity
Masticatory muscle myositis (MMM):
Autoimmune disease affecting the temporal, masseter, and medial and lateral pterygoid muscles of the dog. The term masticatory myositis is an acceptable alternative