Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
C-reactive protein levels rise in dogs with mitral valve heart failure
By Reimann, M J et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2016·Department of Veterinary Disease Biology·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Increased serum C-reactive protein concentrations in dogs with congestive heart failure due to myxomatous mitral valve disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) due to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) had higher levels of a protein called C-reactive protein (CRP) in their blood compared to dogs with less severe forms of the disease. The research included 188 dogs, and those in the CHF group had a median CRP level of 2.65 mg/L, which was significantly higher than dogs with milder forms of MMVD. This suggests that elevated CRP levels may indicate more severe heart issues in dogs. If your dog is diagnosed with CHF, your vet may monitor CRP levels as part of their treatment plan.
People also search for: dog congestive heart failure symptoms · elevated CRP in dogs · myxomatous mitral valve disease treatment
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease in humans and dogs is associated with mildly increased circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP). Few studies have evaluated associations between circulating CRP and canine myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and the results reported have been divergent. The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum concentrations of CRP, determined using a novel automated canine-specific high-sensitivity CRP assay (Gentian hsCRP), were associated with severity of MMVD and selected clinical variables in dogs. The study included 188 client-owned dogs with different severities of MMVD. Dogs were classified based on ACVIM consensus statement guidelines (group A, n = 58; group B1, n = 56; group B2, n = 38; group C, n = 36). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. Dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF; group C) had significantly higher CRP concentrations (median, 2.65 mg/L; quartile 1-quartile 3, 1.09-5.09) compared to dogs in groups A (median, 0.97 mg/L; quartile 1-quartile 3, <0.50-1.97; P = 0.001), B1 (median, 0.78 mg/L; quartile 1-quartile 3, <0.50-1.73, P <0.0001) and B2 (median, 0.60 mg/L; quartile 1-quartile 3, <0.50-1.23; P <0.0001). Other variables reflecting disease severity, including left atrial to aortic root ratio (P = 0.0002, adjusted r(2) = 0.07) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter normalised for bodyweight (P = 0.0005, adjusted r(2) = 0.06), were positively associated with CRP concentration, but the association disappeared if dogs with CHF were excluded from analysis. In conclusion, slightly higher CRP concentrations were found in dogs with CHF whereas severity of asymptomatic MMVD showed no association with CRP concentrations.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26831162/