Normal heart protein levels in retired racing Greyhounds

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a polypeptide found specifically in cardiac muscle tissue that has been used as a diagnostic and prognostic indicator of cardiomyopathy. Increases in cTnI are associated with myocardial pathologic processes. However, high serum cTnI concentrations have been observed in normal Greyhounds. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that Greyhounds have cTnI concentrations higher than non-Greyhound dogs, and that a separate reference range should be established for Greyhounds. ANIMALS: Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein from a group of 20 healthy Greyhound blood donors. METHODS: Analysis of serum cTnI was performed with an immunoassay system with a detection level of 0.01 ng/mL, as described previously. The Greyhound values were compared with 2 groups of Boxers with and without arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), and to a group of non-Boxer control dogs from a previous study. RESULTS: The mean cTnI concentration in Greyhounds was significantly higher (P < .0001) than that in non-Greyhound control dogs, although not significantly different from normal Boxers (P= .50), or Boxers with ARVC (P= .58). Greyhound serum cTnI concentrations were in the range found in Boxers with ARVC. The proposed reference range for cTnI in Greyhounds is 0.05-0.16 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Greyhounds have a reference range for serum cTnI concentrations that differs from that of other previously published reference ranges for dogs of other breeds. Until a broader database and more precise reference range can be established, caution should be exercised in interpreting serum cTnI concentrations in Greyhounds with suspected cardiac disease.