Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How well blood tests detect mitral valve disease in dogs
By Chanmongkolpanit, Kittara et al.·Published in Open veterinary journal·2024·Prasu Arthorn Veterinary Teaching Hospital·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: How accurate are NT-proBNP, ANP, and cTnI levels in diagnosing dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease?
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 69 dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), a common heart condition, were tested for specific heart-related proteins to see if they could help diagnose the disease, especially when advanced tests like X-rays and ultrasounds aren't available. The study found that dogs showing symptoms had higher levels of NT-proBNP, a protein that indicates heart strain, compared to healthy dogs and those without symptoms. This suggests that measuring NT-proBNP could be a useful quick test for veterinarians to assess heart health in dogs with breathing problems. The results indicate that NT-proBNP levels can help distinguish between healthy dogs and those with MMVD, potentially guiding treatment decisions.
People also search for: dog heart disease symptoms · NT-proBNP test for dogs · myxomatous mitral valve disease treatment · dog breathing problems heart test
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is prevalent in dogs. Specialized diagnostics (radiography and echocardiography) may be unavailable in some veterinary settings. Cardiac biomarkers offer potential alternatives. AIM: This study evaluated the diagnostic value of-terminal fragments of pro-brain natriuretic peptides (NT-proBNPs), atrial natriuretic peptides (ANPs), and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels in dogs with MMVD. METHODS: 69 dogs with MMVD (asymptomatic and symptomatic) and 19 healthy controls were assessed. Biomarker levels were measured using commercial kit rapid tests. RESULTS: Our results showed that the median NT-proBNP level in the symptomatic group was higher than those in the asymptomatic (< 0.001) and control (< 0.001) groups. Moreover, the median NT-proBNP level in the asymptomatic group was higher than that in the control group (< 0.001). The cTnI level in the control group was lower than those in the asymptomatic (= 0.039) and symptomatic (= 0.001) groups. No statistically significant difference in the cTnI level was noted between the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups. The best cutoff value of the NT-proBNP level to differentiate the normal controls from dogs with MMVD with or without congestive heart failure was > 505.65 pmol/l [sensitivity, 76.8%; specificity, 89.5%; and area under the curve (AUC), 0.862]. The suggested cutoff value of the NT-proBNP level to differentiate symptomatic MMVD from asymptomatic MMVD was >787.65 pmol/l (sensitivity, 78.38%; specificity, 72.55%; and AUC, 0.792). CONCLUSION: NT-proBNP and cTnI may serve as point-of-care tests for dyspneic dogs, aiding MMVD assessment where specialized diagnostics are limited.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39055758/