Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
X-ray artery to vein ratio helps predict lung pressure in dogs
By Lee, Sang-Kwon & Choi, Jihye·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2023·College of Veterinary Medicine, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Caudal pulmonary artery to vein ratio on radiography can predict pulmonary hypertension in dogs with mitral regurgitation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that dogs with mitral regurgitation (a heart valve issue) can develop pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs), which can lead to serious health problems. By examining X-rays, veterinarians can measure the size of the pulmonary arteries and veins to help predict if a dog has this condition. Specifically, if the caudal pulmonary artery is more than 1.1 times larger than the corresponding vein, it suggests the presence of pulmonary hypertension. This method showed high accuracy, helping vets identify at-risk dogs early.
People also search for: dog mitral regurgitation symptoms · pulmonary hypertension in dogs · dog heart disease treatment
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an important predictor of poor outcomes in dogs with mitral regurgitation (MR). The feasibility of radiography to predict PH in dogs with MR is unknown. This retrospective, observational, and analytic study aimed to identify a radiographic parameter to predict PH in dogs with MR. A total of 302 dogs diagnosed with MR on echocardiography were enrolled. Medical record and radiographic findings such as the size of the main pulmonary artery, left atrium, left ventricle, and right chamber, and cranial and caudal pulmonary arteries and veins were evaluated according to the presence of PH. The diameters of the cranial and caudal pulmonary vessels were compared to the fourth rib and the ninth rib, respectively, and the ratio of the pulmonary artery to the corresponding vein (CdPA/CdPV) was calculated. Pulmonary hypertension was diagnosed in 77 dogs (25.5%) and the prevalence of PH increased with MR grade. The CdPA/CdPV was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the presence of PH. Multivariate analysis showed that the CdPA/CdPV was the only independent radiographic parameter that had a significant association with PH in dogs with MR (P = 0.028). The cut-off value of the CdPA/CdPV = 1.10 showed 90.6% specificity and 31.1% sensitivity for detecting PH in dogs with MR. In dogs with MR, PH can be predicted with high specificity when the caudal pulmonary artery is 1.1 times larger than the corresponding vein on radiographs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36049080/