Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heart size and function in dogs with lung-related heart pressure
By Van Renterghem, Emilie et al.·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2026·Department of Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Right and left heart morphology and function in dogs with compensated chronic right ventricular pressure overload secondary to pulmonic stenosis or precapillary pulmonary hypertension.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with heart issues, specifically those with pulmonic stenosis (a narrowing of the heart valve) and chronic precapillary pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs), were studied to see how their hearts were functioning. The dogs with pulmonic stenosis had less dilation of the right ventricle and better overall heart function compared to those with pulmonary hypertension. This means that dogs with pulmonic stenosis might have a better prognosis than those with the other condition. Treatment options would depend on the specific diagnosis and severity of the heart issues.
People also search for: dog heart problems pulmonic stenosis · chronic pulmonary hypertension in dogs · dog heart function tests
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to compare right and left heart morphology and function in dogs with compensated chronic right ventricular (RV) pressure overload secondary to pulmonic stenosis (PS) and chronic precapillary pulmonary hypertension (cPCPH). ANIMALS AND PROCEDURE: This cross-sectional observational retrospective study included 64 client-owned dogs, including healthy controls (= 15) and groups with PS (= 31) and cPCPH (= 18). The RV pressure gradient (RVPG) was determined by peak pulmonic or peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity and needed to be > 55 mmHg. Echocardiographic parameters assessing RV size [indexed diameter (RVIDd/Ao), area (N-RVAd) in diastole], hypertrophy [(RVFWd/LVFWd), (RVFWd/RVIDd)], and systolic function [fractional area change (RVFAC), indexed area in systole (N-RVAs)] were documented. Interventricular septal flattening was assessed using left ventricular (LV) eccentricity index (EI). RESULTS: The RVPG was lower in cPCPH compared to PS [91 mmHg (55 to 158 mmHg) vs 108 mmHg (56 to 219 mmHg);= 0.022]. The cPCPH group displayed more dilated [RVID/Ao: 0.13 (0.09 to 0.25) vs 0.10 (0.07 to 0.19),= 0.004; N-RVAd: 1.17 (0.65 to 1.66) vs 0.83 (0.45 to 1.45),= 0.010] and less hypertrophied RV [RVFWd/LVFWd: 0.9 (0.44 to 1.4) vs 1.0 (0.75 to 2.0),< 0.020; RVFWd/RVIDd: 0.30 (0.19 to 0.55) vs 0.44 (0.24 to 0.67),< 0.001], RV with poorer systolic function [N-RVAs: 0.69 (0.27 to 1.23) vs 0.35 (0.16 to 0.92),= 0.001; RVFAC: 0.37 (0.14 to 0.66) vs 0.57 (0.29 to 0.71),= 0.004], and more interventricular septal flattening [EIs:1.5 (1.09 to 5.71) vs 1.22 (0.88 to 2.1),= 0.013] compared to PS. The RVID/Ao, N-RVAd, N-RVAs, RVFAC, RVFWd/RVIDd, and EIs were influenced by RVPG and the cause of RV pressure overload (independent of RVPG). Tricuspid regurgitation was more commonly observed in dogs with cPCPH. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: After adjusting for RVPG, dogs with PS had less RV dilation, better RV function, and less left heart compromise compared to dogs with cPCPH.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42095173/