Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
High heart troponin levels in dogs and cats with kidney failure
By Porciello, F et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2008·Department of Clinical Sciences, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cardiac troponin I is elevated in dogs and cats with azotaemia renal failure and in dogs with non-cardiac systemic disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs and cats with kidney failure were found to have high levels of a protein called cardiac troponin I, which can indicate heart damage, even though they showed no obvious signs of heart disease. In this study, 70% of the dogs and cats with kidney issues had elevated troponin levels, as did 70% of dogs with other serious non-heart-related illnesses. This suggests that kidney failure and other systemic diseases can sometimes cause hidden heart problems. It's important for pet owners to discuss these findings with their veterinarian, especially if their pet has kidney disease.
People also search for: dog kidney failure symptoms · cat kidney disease treatment · elevated cardiac troponin in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine if dogs and cats with renal failure, or other severe non-cardiac disease, and no antemortem evidence of cardiac disease on basic clinical evaluation, have elevated levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using 56 dogs and 14 cats with primary non-cardiac disease (39 dogs with azotaemic renal failure, 14 cats with azotaemic renal failure, 17 dogs with non-cardiac systemic disease); 7/25 dogs and 6/14 cats had murmurs detected on physical examination. Serum or heparinised plasma was collected and analysed for cTnI. RESULTS: Cardiac troponin I concentrations were elevated above reference intervals in 70% of dogs and 70% of cats with azotaemic renal failure and in 70% of dogs with a variety of systemic non-cardiac diseases. Cardiac troponin I concentrations did not correlate with the degree of azotaemia, presence of murmurs, hypertension or type of non-cardiac illness. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac troponin I concentration is often elevated in dogs and cats with azotaemic renal failure and in dogs with other systemic non-cardiac illness, suggesting that these conditions often result in clinically inapparent myocardial injury or possibly altered elimination of cTnI.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18826510/