Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Blood test and heart size predict death risk in dogs with mitral
By Moonarmart, W et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2010·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide and left ventricular diameter independently predict mortality in dogs with mitral valve disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 100 dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease were studied to see if certain tests could predict their risk of dying. Researchers found that two key factors—levels of a specific heart-related protein (N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide) and the size of the heart's left ventricle—could independently indicate a higher risk of mortality. For every small increase in heart size, the risk of death increased by 20%, and higher levels of the protein also raised the risk. This information can help veterinarians assess the health of dogs with this condition and guide treatment decisions.
People also search for: dog mitral valve disease prognosis · heart disease in dogs symptoms · N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether natriuretic peptide concentrations would predict all cause mortality in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease. METHODS: One hundred dogs with naturally occurring degenerative mitral valve disease were prospectively recruited for this longitudinal study. Analysis of outcome was undertaken for 73 dogs for which the outcome was known. Dogs underwent physical examination, electrocardiography and echocardiography. Natriuretic peptide concentrations were measured by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The ability of natriuretic peptide concentrations, clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic data, to predict all cause mortality was determined using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses. RESULTS: Thirty dogs died during the period of follow-up. Two variables were independently predictive of all cause mortality; these were the normalised left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and the N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide concentration. An increase of the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter by 0.1 increased the hazard of all cause mortality by 20% (95% confidence interval: 4 to 37%, P=0.01) and a 100 pmol/l increase in N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide increased the hazard by 7% (95 confidence interval: 2 to 11%, P=0.003). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide concentration and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter are significantly and independently predictive of all cause mortality in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20070494/