Diagnostic Criteria for Golden Retriever Pigmentary Uveitis

CHF Grant 02569-MOU: Development of a Polygenic Risk Model for Pigmentary Uveitis in Golden Retrievers

Publication: Townsend, WM, Huey, JA, McCool, E, King, A, Diehl, KA. Golden retriever pigmentary uveitis: Challenges of diagnosis and treatment. Vet Ophthalmol. 2020; 00: 1– 11. https://doi.org/10.1111/vop.12796

What can we learn?
Golden Retriever Pigmentary Uveitis (GRPU) is an inflammatory eye disease with severe, vision-threatening complications seen in Golden Retrievers, but with an unknown mode of inheritance. This publication presents a consensus statement from the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists’ Genetics Committee regarding the diagnostic criteria for GRPU.

• Uveal cysts do not have to be visualized in order to make a diagnosis of GRPU.

• Hypotony does not have to be present for a diagnosis of GRPU.

• “If radial pigment is present on the anterior lens capsule, the eye should be marked as affected by GRPU even if aqueous flare, free floating pigmented cells, hypotony, and/or conjunctival hyperemia are not present.”

Conclusion: All dogs with radial pigment on the anterior lens capsule should be diagnosed as affected with GRPU. Any Golden Retriever presenting with non-specific ocular symptoms or those associated with uveitis should be referred to a specialist for definitive diagnosis since early recognition and treatment of GRPU offers the best chance for a positive outcome.