Clinical Features and Prognosis of Corneal Ulcers in Dogs with Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

Delayed corneal healing could lead to complications such as corneal vascularization and uveitis in corneal ulcer. Insufficient stromal regeneration affected by complicated healing process could result in a weak corneal structure to maintain the globe. Healing of the cornea could be affected by the presence of systemic disease. In practice, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is known that one of the most common systemic diseases seen in corneal ulcer patients. This study was perforned to investigate the characteristics of corneal ulcers in dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Medical records of 34 dogs (38 eyes) that had been diagnosed with corneal ulcers and chronic kidney disease at Haemaru Referral Animal Hospital from April, 2011 to March, 2016 were investigated. A control group was randomly selected during the same time period (31 dogs, 37 eyes) which was included patients with corneal ulcers but no evidence of systemic disease. The mean healing time of superficial corneal ulcers in the CKD group was 21.0 ± 15.0 days, which was significantly longer than that was observed in the control group (11.0 ± 6.6 days, p < 0.05). The incidence rates of uveitis and keratoconjunctivitis sicca in the CKD group were significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). The healing process of the corneal ulcers with CKD patients could be complicated by KCS and uveitis, therefore, prompt and aggressive treatment would be recommended when corneal ulcer was diagnosed in CKD patients.