Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Quality of life in dogs with mitral valve disease
By Häggström, J et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2013·Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Longitudinal analysis of quality of life, clinical, radiographic, echocardiographic, and laboratory variables in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease receiving pimobendan or benazepril: the QUEST study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 260 dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) due to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) were treated with either pimobendan or benazepril to see which medication worked better. Both treatments provided similar quality of life for the dogs, but those on pimobendan took longer before needing more intensive CHF treatment. Additionally, dogs receiving pimobendan had smaller heart sizes and better blood test results compared to those on benazepril. Overall, pimobendan may be a good option for managing CHF in dogs with MMVD.
People also search for: dog heart failure treatment · pimobendan vs benazepril for dogs · myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in dogs. OBJECTIVES: To compare, throughout the period of follow-up of dogs that had not yet reached the primary endpoint, the longitudinal effects of pimobendan versus benazepril hydrochloride treatment on quality-of-life (QoL) variables, concomitant congestive heart failure (CHF) treatment, and other outcome variables in dogs suffering from CHF secondary to MMVD. ANIMALS: A total of 260 dogs in CHF because of MMVD. METHODS: A prospective single-blinded study with dogs randomized to receive pimobendan (0.4-0.6 mg/kg/day) or benazepril hydrochloride (0.25-1.0 mg/kg/day). Differences in outcome variables and time to intensification of CHF treatment were compared. RESULTS: A total of 124 dogs were randomized to pimobendan and 128 to benazepril. No difference was found between groups in QoL variables during the trial. Time from inclusion to 1st intensification of CHF treatment was longer in the pimobendan group (pimobendan 98 days, IQR 30-276 days versus benazepril 59 days, IQR 11-121 days; P = .0005). Postinclusion, dogs in the pimobendan group had smaller heart size based on VHS score (P = .013) and left ventricular diastolic (P = .035) and systolic (P = .0044) dimensions, higher body temperature (P = .030), serum sodium (P = .0027), and total protein (P = .0003) concentrations, and packed cell volume (P = .030). Incidence of arrhythmias was similar in treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Pimobendan versus benazepril resulted in similar QoL during the study, but conferred increased time before intensification of CHF treatment. Pimobendan treatment resulted in smaller heart size, higher body temperature, and less retention of free water.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24010489/