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Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), as diagnosed by non-contact infrared Meibography, in dogs with ocular surface disorders (OSD): a retrospective study - PubMed

  • ️Tue Jan 01 2019

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), as diagnosed by non-contact infrared Meibography, in dogs with ocular surface disorders (OSD): a retrospective study

Marta Viñas et al. BMC Vet Res. 2019.

Abstract

Background: Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is one of the possible conditions underlying ocular surface disorders (OSD). Prevalence of MGD in dogs affected by OSD has not yet been reported. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of MGD among OSD canine patients, which had been assessed by non-contact infrared meibography and interferometry, and to identify MGD associated factors that might guide its diagnosis. Medical records of canine patients examined for OSD between 2016 and 2019 were reviewed. The frequency of MGD was evaluated within different categories (skull conformation, gender, eye and STT-1). The putative MGD risk factors and frequency of MGD within grades of interferometry were evaluated in a regression analysis model and reported as odd ratios (ORs).

Results: One hundred fifty eyes from 81 dogs with OSD were included with median age 75 months (range 3-192) and female representation with 52%. MGD was present in 70% of the examined eyes. MGD risk was higher in males ORadj = 3.015 (95% CI: 1.395-6.514) (P = 0.005) and older patients ORadj = 1.207 (95% CI: 1.081-1.348) (P = 0.001). No significant differences were found between left and right eyes (P = 0.66) or between the two types of skull conformation (P = 0.477) and MGD presence. MGD was associated to the lowest lipid layer (LL) thickness, as assessed by interferometry (grade 0) OR = 16.00 (95% CI: 2.104-121.68) (P < 0.001). STT values were not significantly associated with the presence of MGD (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: MGD is a common underlying pathology in OSD. Being male and higher age are risk factors for MGD. An interferometry grade 0 may guide OSD diagnosis towards MGD.

Keywords: Canine; Interferometry; Lipid layer; Meibography; Meibomian gland dysfunction; Ocular surface disorder; Tear film.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1

Distribution of skull conformation (a) and gender (b) within grades of interferometry

Fig. 2
Fig. 2

SBM Sistemi, portable instrument for meibography and interferometry. Copyright SBM Sistemi. Reproduced with permission

Fig. 3
Fig. 3

Non-contact meibography. a Non-contact infrared meibography of an upper eyelid with normal meibomian glands. b An upper eyelid affected by MGD. The eyelid margin is characterized by diffused ductal occlusion and plugging of the MGs orifices (dotted arrows). The eyelid mucocutaneous junction is moved posteriorly with retroplacement of ductal openings (multiple arrows). Areas characterized by cystic dilatation of the ducts filled with extremely dense opaque secretion (black arrows and ovals) alternate with darker areas due to the diffused atrophy of the acini detected as gland dropout on infrared meibography (white ovals)

Fig. 4
Fig. 4

Grading scale of interferometric patterns. A four-interval grading scale of interferometric patterns was adopted from human literature and one more grade (grade 0) was added to evaluate lipid layer (LL) thickness in dogs. Grade 0 includes cases of almost complete absence of the aqueous phase, with lipid-contaminated mucus over the surface of the corneal epithelium. Grade 1 (15–30 nm) corresponds to faintly visible homogeneous meshwork pattern; grade 2 (31–60 nm), when a more compact meshwork pattern with grey waves and occasional colored shades is observed; grade 3 (61–100 nm), when a meshwork with waves and interference fringes with some colors are noted and grade 4 (more than 100 nm), when waves with many colors are present

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