Anti-desmoglein-2 autoantibodies do not discriminate between UK boxer dogs with and without arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Evidence regarding the diagnostic utility of serum anti-desmoglein-2 (DSG2) autoantibodies for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) in boxer dogs is conflicting. METHODS: Prospective standardised evaluation of apparently healthy boxer dogs for ARVC was performed at three referral centres, including blood pressure measurement, electrocardiography, echocardiography, haematology, biochemistry (including cardiac troponin I) and 24-hour Holter monitoring. Additional dogs with a diagnosis of ARVC were retrospectively recruited. ARVC disease status was defined using cut-offs of 20 or less (unaffected) and more than 300 (affected) ventricular premature complexes of right ventricular origin in 24 hours. The residual serum samples were stored at ‒80°C for analysis for anti-DSG2 autoantibodies using ELISA techniques. RESULTS: Forty boxer dogs were enrolled (11 healthy controls, 10 with preclinical ARVC and 19 with clinical ARVC). Serum anti-DSG2 autoantibodies were detected in all dogs, bar one healthy dog. DSG2 differed significantly between groups (p = 0.031) and was significantly lower in dogs with preclinical versus clinical ARVC (p = 0.025). LIMITATIONS: Some data were collected retrospectively, and some dogs were receiving antiarrhythmic therapy. CONCLUSION: Serum DSG2 autoantibodies can be present in boxer dogs with preclinical and clinical ARVC and apparently healthy controls.