Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
What the EPIC study means for treating dog heart valve disease
By Pace, Charlotte·Published in The Veterinary Nurse·2017·Head Nurse, Oundle and Thrapston Veterinary Surgery, Northamptonshire, UK, United Kingdom·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Cardiology update: the EPIC study and what it means for treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
My dog was diagnosed with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), which is a common heart problem in dogs, and I learned that treatment options have improved. A study found that giving a medication called pimobendan can help delay the onset of heart failure in dogs with this condition by about 15 months. This is important because, without treatment, dogs often have less than a year to live after developing heart failure. Pimobendan is both safe and effective, giving pet owners more time with their furry friends before serious heart issues arise.
People also search for: dog heart disease treatment · pimobendan for dogs · myxomatous mitral valve disease symptoms
Abstract
The results of a study published in 2016 brought welcome news to the world of veterinary cardiology. Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common form of acquired heart disease diagnosed in dogs. Before this study released its results, treatment of MMVD was restricted to when dogs developed heart failure as a result of the disease. Despite effective treatment, median survival time is less than a year when dogs are diagnosed with heart failure. Therefore, The Effect of Pimobendan in Dogs with Preclinical Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease and Cardiomegaly: The EPIC Study – A Randomized Clinical Trial (2016), chose to look at treating MMVD with pimobendan in an attempt to prolong the period before heart failure developed. The EPIC study proved conclusively that administration of pimobendan could delay the onset of heart failure by, on average, 15 months, both safely and effectively.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.12968/vetn.2017.8.3.156