CASE REPORT: SUBCONJUNCTIVAL INJECTION WITH AUTOLOGOUS PLATELET-RICH PLASMA FOR REFRACTORY CORNEAL ULCERS IN A DOG

A 12-year-old, intact, male Golden Retriever dog presented with a 1-month history of corneal ulcer, redness, and occasional squint in the left eye (oculus sinister [OS]). A thorough ophthalmological examination revealed corneal edema, diffuse corneal vascularization, and excessive granulation tissue growth. The tentative diagnosis was chronic superficial keratitis or pannus. After 3 weeks of treatment for OS, blepharospasm and superficial corneal ulceration with a lip of nonadherent epithelium of the right eye (oculus dexter [OD]) developed. No improvement was observed after autologous serum eye drop treatment combined with simple debridement and grid keratotomy on both eyes (oculi uterque [OU]) for 3 months; thereafter, blindness developed. The diagnosis was refractory corneal ulcers. The application of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was instilled via subconjunctival injection OU every 2 weeks for 2 months. The OU corneas started to re-epithelialize and heal, and the granulation tissues significantly decreased while the vision improved. Therefore, PRP was continued to be administered every 1–2 months for 6 months. After more than 1 year, the OU corneas have healed without recurrent ulceration and with only mild haze. In conclusion, autologous PRP subconjunctival injection is a potentially beneficial addition to the medical management of refractory corneal ulcers in dogs.