Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pigmented paravenous retinal atrophy found in five dogs
By Linek, Jens et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2012·Department of Ophthalmology - Private Specialists Practice, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Five cases of pigmented paravenous retinochoroidal atrophy in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Five dogs were found to have a specific eye condition called Pigmented Paravenous Retinochoroidal Atrophy (PPRCA), which causes changes in the retina but does not seem to affect their vision. During eye exams, vets noticed areas of copper-brown discoloration around the blood vessels in the dogs' retinas, which gradually got larger over time. Additional tests, including ultrasounds and tissue samples, were done on some of the dogs, but no signs of inflammation or vision problems were detected. This condition appears to be similar to a form seen in humans and is generally considered an incidental finding.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe a funduscopic finding in dogs that is referred to as Pigmented Paravenous Retinochoroidal Atrophy (PPRCA). ANIMALS STUDIED: Over a period of 24 years of ophthalmological practice, five cases of a characteristic paravenous retinal atrophy were observed in dogs. PROCEDURES: A comprehensive clinical ophthalmological examination in all five dogs was complemented by abdominal sonography (cases 1, 3), clinical pathology analysis (cases 1, 3, 4), and a histological examination of both bulbi, kidneys, spleen, and liver in one dog (case 1). RESULTS: Localized hyper-reflectivity in the tapetal fundus was observed in all five dogs and demonstrated a characteristic perivascular distribution along some peripheral retinal blood vessels. In these areas, geographic copper-brown coloration that tended to become darker with time was seen. Ophthalmoscopic signs of inflammation were lacking. The funduscopic abnormalities slowly progressed in size over years. Visual impairment could not be detected. Histopathology in one dog revealed severe retinal atrophy with multifocal perivascular distribution, mainly affecting the tapetal fundus and occasionally expanding into the nontapetal fundus. CONCLUSIONS: The described retinal lesions bear similarities with PPRCA in humans. As in humans, it appears to be an incidental funduscopic finding that is not associated with obvious vision impairment.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22432693/