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Optical coherence tomography and molecular analysis of sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome ( SARDS ) eyes suggests the immune‐mediated nature of retinal damage
Author(s) -
Grozdanic Sinisa D.,
Lazic Tatjana,
Kecova Helga,
Mohan Kabhilan,
Kuehn Markus H.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
veterinary ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.594
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1463-5224
pISSN - 1463-5216
DOI - 10.1111/vop.12597
Subject(s) - medicine , electroretinography , retinal , optical coherence tomography , histology , ophthalmology , retina , pathology , biology , neuroscience
Objective To perform detailed analysis of retinal changes in dogs with SARDS using optical coherence tomography ( OCT ), funduscopy, and molecular analysis. Animals Subjects were 29 dogs from 12 US states and Canada diagnosed with SARDS by 8 ophthalmologists. An additional 7 eyes from 5 deceased SARDS dogs were used for molecular and histological analysis. Procedures Dogs were evaluated using chromatic pupil light reflex testing ( cPLR ), and electroretinography ( ERG ); subjects underwent complete ophthalmic examination, including funduscopy, retinal photography, and OCT , in addition to complete laboratory analysis, blood pressure evaluation, abdominal and thoracic radiographs, and computerized tomography ( CT ) imaging to assess possible systemic abnormalities. Histology and immunohistochemistry analysis was performed in 2 SARDS eyes. Microarray analysis was performed in 5 SARDS retinas. Results Thirty‐eight percent of patients had <1‐mm wide retinal detachments ( RD ) on OCT analysis, which could not be detected by funduscopy or retinal photographs. Systemic hypertension did not seem to be a contributing factor ( RD 22.2%; ND 20%, Odds ratio = 1.1). No dogs showed neoplastic changes by thoracic or abdominal radiography, or CT imaging. There was no statistically significant difference in age ( RD 7.9 ± 1.9 years (mean ± SD ); ND 7.6 ± 1.7 years, p = 0.69) or duration of blindness prior to presentation ( RD 18 ± 7 days (mean± SD ); ND 21 ± 12 days, p = 0.28). Microarray and histology analysis of SARDS eyes revealed molecular changes suggestive of immune‐mediated damage. Conclusions Observed histological, molecular, and OCT changes are highly suggestive of immune‐mediated damage in SARDS eyes.