Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Serum osmolality and chloride levels linked to heart disease stages
By Daly, Edward J et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2023·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Use of serum osmolality to identify heart disease stage in dogs and relationship to mathematical chloride correction.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with heart disease, specifically those with myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD), were studied to see how their serum osmolality (a measure of body water balance) related to the stage of their heart condition. The researchers found that dogs in the later stages of heart disease had higher serum osmolality levels compared to healthy dogs. This suggests that measuring serum osmolality could help veterinarians assess the severity of heart disease in dogs. However, the methods used to measure osmolality showed some inconsistencies, which means they should be used carefully.
People also search for: dog heart disease symptoms · how to manage heart failure in dogs · serum osmolality in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Heart failure-associated hypochloremia can be depletional from diuretics or dilutional from water retention. Serum osmolality reflects water balance but has not been evaluated in dogs with heart disease. HYPOTHESIS: To determine if serum osmolality is related to heart disease stage and amount of mathematical correction of serum chloride (Cl) concentrations in healthy dogs and dogs with myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD). ANIMALS: Seventy-seven dogs (20 healthy, 25 Stage B MMVD, 32 Stage C/D MMVD). METHODS: Serum Clconcentrations were mathematically corrected. Osmolality was calculated (calOsm) and directly measured by freezing point depression (dmOsm) and compared by Bland-Altman analysis. Biochemical variables and osmolality were compared among healthy, Stage B, and Stage C/D dogs. Correlations were explored between osmolality and biochemical variables. Median and range are presented. P < .05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The calOsm was different among groups (P = .003), with Stage B (310 mOsm/kg; 306, 316) and C/D dogs (312 mOsm/kg; 308, 319) having higher calOsm than healthy dogs (305 mOsm/kg; 302, 308). Osmolality methods were moderately correlated (P < .0001, r = .46) but with proportional bias and poor agreement. The amount of Clcorrection was negatively correlated with calOsm (P < .0001, r = -.78) and dmOsm (P = .004, r = -.33). Serum bicarbonate concentration was negatively correlated with Cl(P < .0001, r = -.67). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Dogs with Stage B and Stage C/D heart disease had higher calOsm than healthy dogs. Osmolality was inversely related to the amount of Clcorrection, which supports its use in assessing relative body water content. Poor agreement between calOsm and dmOsm prevents methodological interchange.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37702389/