Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Medical treatments for dogs with mitral valve disease in a large study
By Franchini, A et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology·2022·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The longitudinal outcome of canine (K9) myxomatous mitral valve disease (LOOK-Mitral) registry: Baseline treatment characteristics.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of over 6,000 dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (a common heart condition) had their treatment plans reviewed by veterinary cardiologists. Many dogs received medications like angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-i) and pimobendan, which help manage heart disease symptoms. The study found that the publication of a major trial led to more dogs in earlier stages of the disease receiving pimobendan, while prescriptions for other medications decreased. This shows how new research can change how veterinarians treat heart conditions in dogs.
People also search for: dog heart disease treatment · myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs · pimobendan for dogs heart condition
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe the medical treatment prescribed or modified by veterinary cardiologists at the enrollment visit in dogs included in the longitudinal outcome of canine (K9) myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) registry (LOOK-mitral registry) and to evaluate the influence of the EPIC trial and other selected variables on cardiologist prescription habits. ANIMALS: The medical records of 6,102 dogs enrolled in the LOOK_mitral registry between 2015 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed and 6,016 dogs were included. RESULTS: A medical treatment was prescribed by a cardiologist to 2,599 dogs (15% Stage-B1, 90% Stage-B2 and to all dogs in Stage-C). Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (Ace-i) were the treatment most commonly prescribed for dogs in Stage-B1 (n = 352, 9%). The combination of pimobendan and an Ace-i was the most common treatment in Stage-B2 dogs (n = 367, 41%). Furosemide, an Ace-i, and pimobendan was the most common cardiac medical treatment prescribed for ACVIM Stage-C dogs (n = 704, 57%). Within each stage, dogs with larger left atrial and left ventricular dimensions were more likely to receive Ace-i, pimobendan or spironolactone. There was a four-fold increase in pimobendan prescription in Stage-B2 dogs after the publication of the EPIC trial. Moreover, a 15% reduction in Ace-i prescription and a 30% reduction in spironolactone prescription occurred after EPIC. In 974 dogs, a medical treatment was prescribed by the referring veterinarian. This was not changed (12%), modified (74%), or discontinued (14%) by the cardiologist. CONCLUSIONS: The EPIC trial and the echocardiographic assessment of left atrial and ventricular dimensions influence cardiologists' prescription habits.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35316716/