Prognosis and impact of equine recurrent uveitis.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is a leading cause of vision loss in horses. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prognosis and impact of ERU on affected horses and their owners by evaluating the signalment, treatment and outcome (including the loss of use, vision assessment and economic loss). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective impact study. METHODS: Medical records of horses presenting to the North Carolina State University Veterinary Health Complex (NCSU-VHC) with ERU between 1999 and 2014 were reviewed. Signalment, clinical signs, ophthalmic examination findings, treatments and outcomes were evaluated. Owner questionnaires were completed regarding vision, job/role, monetary value, diagnostic and treatment costs, concurrent illness and outcomes. RESULTS: Records of 224 horses (338 eyes) with ERU were reviewed. There was an overrepresentation of Appaloosas (54; 24.1%), Hanoverians (11; 4.9%) and other Warmbloods (13; 5.8%). Ninety-six eyes (28.4%) were diagnosed as blind and 38 eyes (11.2%) with glaucoma on initial evaluation. Leptospirosis titres of serum and/or aqueous humour were obtained in 88 horses and were positive in 40 horses (45.5%), with L. pomona being the most frequently isolated serovar. Globe loss at the NCSU-VHC occurred in 41 ERU eyes (12.1% of total). Owner questionnaires were evaluated in 194 horses (86.6%) and 91 horses (46.9%) were reported blind in the affected eye(s). Fifty-seven horses (29.4%) did not return to their previous role, while 61 (31.4%) performed at a reduced level. Equine recurrent uveitis decreased the monetary value of 164 horses. Twenty-nine horses (14.9%) were euthanised and 37 (19.1%) underwent change in ownership as a direct result of ERU. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of ERU is attributed to the high frequency of blindness, globe loss and loss of function. Euthanasia and change of ownership are common sequelae to the progressive nature of ERU. These factors, along with financial costs of the disease, have a significant impact on affected horses and their owners.

The Hajdu-Cheney syndrome. A review of the literature and report of 3 cases.

The Hajdu-Cheney syndrome or acro-osteolysis syndrome is a rare disease. Only 18 well-documented cases are described in the literature. Presentation of cases in the oral surgical literature is rare. The syndrome is characterized by dissolution of terminal phalanges of the hands and feet, dolichocephaly, open cranial sutures, multiple wormian bones, absence of frontal sinuses, wide open sella turcica, progressive basilar invagination, early loss of teeth, short stature and characteristic facies. Inheritance is most likely autosomal dominant. 3 patients are presented, 2 of them are mother and son, the latter (case 2) being the youngest patient reported to date. The parents of the 3rd patient were consanguineous, raising the possibility of genetic heterogeneity. Dental, surgical and genetic aspects are discussed.

Lunatomalacia and its treatment with replacement by a silastic prosthesis.

In 11 patients with lunatomalacia, the lunate bone was replaced by a Silastic prosthesis. Follow-up periods varied from 7 to 25 months. Clincal results were good in 10 cases, 8 patients were satisfied with the outcome of the operation.