Astenia cutanea grave in un gatto di 10 mesi: descrizione di un caso clinico

A 10-month-old domestic shorthair intact male cat was evaluated due to multiple skin lacerations located in the regions of the dorsum, thorax and head. On physical examination the skin was hyperextensible, fragile and pendulous on the ventral region of the abdomen. During the clinical examination, several cutaneous samples were taken using a skin punch. The obtained material was used for histological and electron microscopy investigations. The patient died spontaneously after 1 month and was submitted to necropsy, which revealed the rupture of the vena cava. The results of electron microscopy, together with the data of clinical, necropsy and histological examination confirmed the suspicion of cutaneous asthenia.