Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Blood tests for heart valve disease severity in dogs
By Moesgaard, Sophia G et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2011·Department of Basic Animal and Veterinary Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Brain-natriuretic peptide and cyclic guanosine monophosphate as biomarkers of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 75 dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), a common heart problem, had their blood tested for specific markers to see how severe their condition was. The tests showed that higher levels of a marker called NT-proBNP were linked to more severe heart issues, especially in dogs experiencing heart failure. Additionally, the study found that older dogs with heart failure had a lower ratio of certain substances related to heart function. This information can help veterinarians better assess and manage heart disease in dogs.
People also search for: dog heart disease symptoms · NT-proBNP test for dogs · myxomatous mitral valve disease treatment
Abstract
Elevations in the plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides correlate with increased severity of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in dogs. This study correlates the severity of MMVD with the plasma concentrations of the biomarkers N-terminal fragment of the pro-brain-natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and its second messenger, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Furthermore, the L-arginine:asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) ratio was measured as an index of nitric oxide availability. The study included 75 dogs sub-divided into five groups based on severity of MMVD as assessed by clinical examination and echocardiography. Plasma NT-proBNP and cGMP concentrations increased with increasing valve dysfunction and were significantly elevated in dogs with heart failure. The cGMP:NT-proBNP ratio decreased significantly in dogs with heart failure, suggesting the development of natriuretic peptide resistance. Although the l-arginine:ADMA ratio decreased with increasingly severe MMVD, this was largely due to the older age of the dogs with heart failure.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20822939/