Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Echocardiogram signs linked to survival in dogs with mitral valve
By Sargent, Julia et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology·2015·The Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Echocardiographic predictors of survival in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 70 dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), a common heart condition, were studied to find out which echocardiogram measurements could predict how long they might live. The researchers found that certain measurements, like the speed of blood flow through the heart and the presence of a flail leaflet (a part of the valve that doesn't close properly), were strong indicators of survival. Dogs with higher blood flow speeds and specific valve issues were at greater risk of cardiac death. This information can help veterinarians assess the severity of MMVD and guide treatment decisions.
People also search for: dog heart disease prognosis · myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs · echocardiogram results for dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate vena contracta and other echocardiographic measures of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) severity in a multivariable analysis of survival in dogs. ANIMALS: 70 dogs diagnosed with MMVD from stored echocardiographic images that met study inclusion criteria. METHODS: Left heart dimensions were measured as well as mitral regurgitant jet area/left atrial area (JAR), early mitral filling velocity (Evel), extent of mitral valve prolapse in right and left views (ProlR, ProlL), Prol indexed to aortic diameter (ProlR:Ao, ProlL:Ao), presence of a flail leaflet (FlailR, FlailL), and mitral regurgitation vena contracta diameter (VCR, VCL) indexed to aortic diameter (VCR:Ao, VCL:Ao). Follow-up from referring veterinarians was obtained by questionnaire or telephone to determine survival times. Inter- and intra-observer agreement was evaluated with Bland-Altman plots and weighted Kappa analysis. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves, logrank tests and Cox's proportional hazards. RESULTS: Logrank analysis showed VCL:Ao, VCR:Ao, FlailL, ProlR:Ao, ProlL:Ao, left ventricular internal dimension in diastole indexed to aortic diameter (LVIDD:Ao) >2.87, left atrium to aorta ratio (LA/Ao) >1.6, and Evel >1.4 m/s were predictors of cardiac mortality. In a multivariable analysis, the independent predictors of cardiac mortality were Evel >1.4 m/s [hazard ratio (HR) 5.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5-10.3], FlailL (HR 3.1, 95% CI 1.3-7.9), and ProlR:Ao (HR 2.8, 95% CI 1.3-6.3). CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiographic measures of mitral regurgitation severity and mitral valve pathology provide valuable prognostic information independent of chamber enlargement in dogs with MMVD.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25586168/