Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Electrolyte levels and hormone changes in dog heart disease stages
By Darcy Adin et al.·Published in Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine·2020·College of Veterinary Medicine University of Florida Gainesville Florida, GB·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Role of electrolyte concentrations and renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone activation in the staging of canine heart disease
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with heart disease was studied to understand how electrolyte levels and certain hormone systems relate to the severity of their condition. The researchers found that low chloride levels in the blood were particularly helpful in identifying dogs with advanced heart disease (stage D). They also noted that the common heart medication furosemide didn't always work well at higher doses, suggesting that some dogs might not absorb it properly. In dogs with severe heart failure, treatments that suppress the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) were more effective, indicating they could help manage their condition better.
People also search for: dog heart disease symptoms · low chloride levels in dogs · furosemide dosage for dogs heart failure
Abstract
Abstract Background Refractory congestive heart failure (CHF) and associated diuretic resistance are not well defined. Objectives To characterize renal function, electrolyte concentrations, indices of diuretic efficacy, and renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system (RAAS) activation in dogs with naturally occurring heart disease (HD) in American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine stages B1, B2, C, and D and to determine their usefulness in defining HD stages. Animals Group 1:149 dogs with HD stages B1, B2, C, and D. Group 2:22 dogs with HD stages C and D. Methods Group 1: Renal parameters, serum and urine electrolyte and diuretic concentrations, and urine aldosterone concentrations were measured. Medication dosages and measured variables were compared among stages. Correlation of furosemide dosages to serum concentrations was explored. Group 2: Angiotensin‐converting enzyme activity and RAAS components were measured and compared among CHF stages. Results Serum chloride concentration was the best differentiator of HD stage. Furosemide PO dosages (≤6 mg/kg/day) were weakly correlated with serum furosemide concentrations, whereas higher dosages were not significantly correlated. Angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor dosage and RAAS inhibition were greater in stage D, compared to stage C dogs. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Hypochloremia is a useful marker for stage D HD in dogs. Poor furosemide dosage correlation to serum concentration may indicate variable and poor absorption, especially at higher dosages, advanced disease, or both. A small number of stage D dogs met proposed criteria for diuretic resistance. Greater RAAS inhibition in stage D versus stage C indicates effectiveness of RAAS‐suppressive treatments in this group of dogs with refractory CHF.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15662