Familial subvalvular aortic stenosis in golden retrievers: inheritance and echocardiographic findings.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To describe the echocardiographic findings and pedigree analysis of golden retrievers with subvalvular aortic stenosis. METHODS: Seventy-three golden retrievers were evaluated by auscultation and echocardiography. A subcostal continuous-wave Doppler aortic velocity &#xea;2&#xb7;5 m/s and presence of a left basilar systolic ejection murmur were required for diagnosis of subvalvular aortic stenosis. Three echocardiographic characteristics were recorded: evidence of aortic insufficiency, subvalvular ridge or left ventricular hypertrophy. A disease status score was calculated by totalling the number of echocardiographic -characteristics per subject. RESULTS: Thirty-two of 73 dogs were affected and their aortic velocities were as follows: range 2&#xb7;5 to 6&#xb7;8 m/s, median 3&#xb7;4 m/s and standard deviation 1&#xb7;2 m/s. Echocardiographic characteristics of 32 affected dogs were distributed as follows: left ventricular hypertrophy 12 of 32, aortic insufficiency 20 of 32 and subvalvular ridge 20 of 32. Disease status score ranged from 0 to 3 with a median of 2. There was a statistically significant correlation between aortic velocity and disease status score (r=0&#xb7;644, P<0&#xb7;0001). Subvalvular aortic stenosis was observed in multiple generations of several families and appears familial. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Subvalvular aortic stenosis in the golden retriever is familial. Severity of stenosis correlates well with cumulative presence of echocardiographic characteristics (left ventricular hypertrophy, subvalvular ridge and aortic insufficiency).