Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heart size changes before heart failure in Cavalier King Charles
By Lord, P et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2010·Department of Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Rate of change of heart size before congestive heart failure in dogs with mitral regurgitation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with mitral regurgitation (a heart valve problem) showed significant changes in heart size leading up to congestive heart failure. Over several years, researchers measured the size of the heart chambers and found that these dimensions increased rapidly in the year before heart failure occurred. This suggests that pet owners might notice signs of heart problems as the heart chambers grow larger, indicating that the heart is struggling. Monitoring these changes could help veterinarians predict and manage heart failure in affected dogs.
People also search for: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel heart problems · mitral regurgitation symptoms in dogs · signs of congestive heart failure in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to examine the changes in vertebral heart scale, and left atrial and ventricular dimensions before and at onset of congestive heart failure in cavalier King Charles spaniels with mitral regurgitation. METHODS: Records and radiographs from 24 cavalier King Charles spaniels with mitral regurgitation were used. Vertebral heart scale (24 dogs), and left atrial dimension and left ventricular end diastolic and end systolic diameters (18 dogs) and their rate of increase were measured at intervals over years to the onset of congestive heart failure. They were plotted against time to onset of congestive heart failure. RESULTS: Dimensions and rates of change of all parameters were highest at onset of congestive heart failure, the difference between observed and chance outcome being highly significant using a two-tailed chi-square test (P<0.001). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The left heart chambers increase in size rapidly only in the last year before the onset of congestive heart failure. Increasing left ventricular end systolic dimension is suggestive of myocardial failure before the onset of congestive heart failure. Rate of increase of heart dimensions may be a useful indicator of impending congestive heart failure.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20406369/