PubMed ID: 41223533
Author(s): Heyward JL, Lynch AM, Elbe A, Jeffery U, Mowat FM. Dogs with sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome have evidence of a hypercoagulable state and decreased clot turnover. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2025 Nov 12:1-11. doi: 10.2460/javma.25.08.0540. Online ahead of print. PMID 41223533
Journal: Journal Of The American Veterinary Medical Association, Nov 2025
OBJECTIVE To evaluate plasma from dogs with sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) for coagulability, extent of clot turnover, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) concentrations.
METHODS Archived (2016 to 2017) or fresh (2023 to 2024) citrated plasma was collected (jugular venipuncture) at a university clinic from dogs with confirmed SARDS and controls (age, breed, and sex matched to a dog with SARDS). Light absorbance fibrinolysis assay assessed clot formation (clot formation velocity, peak optical density [POD], and area under the curve [AUC]) and degradation (percent clot lysis at 30 to 60 minutes, clot lysis velocity). Concentrations of PAI-1 were measured (ELISA). Results were analyzed with the Wilcoxon signed rank test, Spearman correlation, and multiple logistic regression.
RESULTS There were 6 dogs with confirmed SARDS in the pilot study and 10 in the prospective study. Dogs with SARDS had higher POD and AUC than controls (POD median difference [MD] = 306 milliabsorbance units [mAU; pilot], 356 mAU [prospective]; AUC MD = 1,900 AU [pilot], 6,775 AU [prospective]), indicating greater extent of clot formation. Dogs with acute SARDS (< 6 months' duration; n = 11) had higher POD (MD = 382 mAU), AUC (MD = 4,857 AU), and clot formation velocity (MD = 0.6 mAU/s), indicating greater strength and rate of clot formation. Dogs with acute SARDS also had lower clot lysis at 30 minutes (MD = -16%) and 60 minutes (MD = -22%), indicating reduced clot lysis. The combined fibrinolysis assay outcomes allowed excellent differentiation between dogs with SARDS and controls (area under the receiver operating curve, 0.93). There was no difference in PAI-1 plasma concentrations between groups.
CONCLUSIONS Dogs with SARDS are hypercoagulable with evidence of decreased clot turnover in the acute stage.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE Dogs with SARDS are hypercoagulable; reduced clot lysis may contribute to thrombus-associated ischemic risk.