Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heartworm infection raises heart and lung biomarker levels in dogs
By Carretón, E et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2011·Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs: cardiopulmonary biomarker levels.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with heartworm infection (Dirofilaria immitis) had their blood tested for specific heart and lung markers to see how the disease affected them. The tests showed that dogs with heartworm had higher levels of cardiac troponin I, which can indicate heart damage, while healthy dogs had undetectable levels. Additionally, markers like myoglobin and D-dimer were also higher in the infected dogs, suggesting they could help diagnose related heart and lung issues. These findings could help veterinarians better assess and treat dogs suffering from heartworm disease.
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Abstract
Cardiopulmonary biomarkers are biological parameters that can be objectively measured and quantified as indicators of pathogenic processes (heartworm disease) or as indicators of response to therapeutic intervention. To determine levels of cardiopulmonary biomarkers in canine dirofilariasis, measurements of cardiac troponin T, cardiac troponin I, myoglobin, and D-dimer concentrations were performed for dogs with and without evidence of adult heartworm infection. The results showed that levels of cardiac troponin T were undetectable in all dogs studied while levels of cardiac troponin I were higher in dogs infected with Dirofilaria immitis. In healthy dogs, levels of myoglobin and D-dimer were below detection limits of the instrument and were significantly higher in heartworm-infected dogs, notably in microfilaremic dogs. The results suggest the possibility of using troponin I and myoglobin as markers for cardiac damage and the D-dimer as a supportive tool for a diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism in dogs with cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21310535/