Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs and tissue changes in dogs with ocular gliovascular syndrome
By Treadwell, Amy et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2015·Carolina Veterinary Specialists, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical and histological characteristics of canine ocular gliovascular syndrome.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs, mostly Labrador Retrievers around 9 years old, were diagnosed with a serious eye condition called canine ocular gliovascular syndrome (COGS), which caused symptoms like bleeding in the eye (hyphema) and high eye pressure (glaucoma). Unfortunately, standard treatments didn't help much, and many dogs needed surgery to remove the affected eye within about 27 days of diagnosis. This condition is linked to abnormal growth of cells in the eye and can lead to severe complications. If your dog shows signs of eye problems, it's important to consult your veterinarian for proper evaluation and treatment options.
People also search for: dog eye bleeding treatment · Labrador Retriever glaucoma symptoms · COGS in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To characterize the clinical, diagnostic, and histopathologic findings in dogs with canine ocular gliovascular syndrome (COGS). PROCEDURES: The archives at the Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin (COPLOW) were used to identify eyes with COGS. Histopathological inclusion criteria included: a neovascular membrane extending from the optic nerve head or retina, clusters of spindle cells lacking vascularization within the vitreous, and histological signs of glaucoma. Special and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining techniques were performed. Clinical data, treatments, and outcomes were obtained from case records and information provided by submitting veterinarians. RESULTS: Thirty-seven eyes of 36 dogs were identified with COGS. The average age at diagnosis was 8.8 years (±2.2). The relative risk for a Labrador retriever affected by COGS was significantly greater (9.3 times) (P < 0.0001) when compared to all other dog breeds within the COPLOW database. Most dogs presented with hyphema and secondary glaucoma; average intraocular pressure was 39 mmHg (±19). Average time to enucleation or evisceration was 27 days. Vitreal cells stained positive with IHC for glial fibrillary acidic protein in 14 of 17 globes, and vascular endothelial growth factor was expressed in the vitreal cells in five of five globes. CONCLUSIONS: We have defined a syndrome associated with vitreal glial cell aggregates and neovascular proliferation from the optic nerve or retina, which leads to neovascular glaucoma. The inflammation and secondary glaucoma resulting from this syndrome appear poorly responsive to conventional medical therapies. The exact etiology of COGS remains undetermined, but a systemic etiology is unlikely.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25174277/