UC Davis

Objective

To describe the clinical findings, multimodal corneal imaging features and treatment in canine patients diagnosed with endotheliitis.

Animals studied

Four canine patients met inclusion criteria for bilateral corneal disease with endothelial inflammation and secondary corneal edema that responded to topical anti-inflammatory treatment.

Methods

The patients selected underwent a complete ophthalmic examination with emphasis on the cornea including ultrasound pachymetry (USP), Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT), in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), and digital slit lamp photography.

Results

All patients in this study demonstrated thickened corneas due to edema with USP and FD-OCT. With IVCM, mild to severe polymegathism and pleomorphism of corneal endothelial cells, reduced endothelial cell density, hyperreflective keratic precipitates (KPs), and extracellular debris as well as hyporeflective pseudoguttata were observed. With FD-OCT, hyperreflective KPs were commonly observed on the inferior cornea. Clinical examination and advanced imaging results were consistent with a diagnosis of endotheliitis. All patients initially responded to topical anti-inflammatory treatment and required continued therapy; two patients also received topical netarsudil, a rho-associated coiled-coil kinase inhibitor.

Conclusion

Endotheliitis should be considered for canine patients with bilateral edema that is most severe in the inferior cornea. Careful inspection of Descemet's membrane-endothelial complex should be performed for KPs or inflammatory debris. Chronic administration of topical anti-inflammatories may be necessary to prevent flare-ups of endotheliitis.