Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
NT-proBNP blood test to detect lung hypertension in dogs
By Costa-Rodríguez, Noelia et al.·Published in Parasites & vectors·2023·Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Usefulness of NT-proBNP in dogs with heartworm: could this biomarker be useful to evaluate pulmonary hypertension?
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 50 dogs with heartworm disease were tested for pulmonary hypertension (PH) using a blood test that measures NT-proBNP, a marker often elevated in heart issues. The results showed that 40% of these dogs had moderate to severe PH, and those with higher NT-proBNP levels were more likely to show symptoms and have a lower body condition. The test was found to be quite accurate, helping veterinarians identify dogs with more serious heart problems. This information can be crucial for determining the best treatment options for affected dogs.
People also search for: dog heartworm symptoms · NT-proBNP test for dogs · pulmonary hypertension in dogs treatment
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In recent years, the usefulness of echocardiography and serum biomarkers in the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in dogs with heartworm disease has been studied. Previously, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has shown high concentrations in dogs with heart disease and/or PH as well as its usefulness as a prognostic indicator, but it has never been evaluated in the diagnosis and prognosis of PH in dogs with heartworm disease. The aim was to evaluate the serum concentrations of NT-proBNP in dogs infected by Dirofilaria immitis to determine its usefulness as a tool to detect precapillary PH. METHODS: NT-proBNP was determined in 50 heartworm-infected dogs. Presence/absence of PH was determined echocardiographically, using the Right Pulmonary Artery Distensibility Index (RPAD Index) and the systolic flow of tricuspid regurgitation mainly, together with other echocardiographic measurements following the guidelines of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) for the diagnosis of PH. Other epidemiological parameters (breed, age, sex, status: client-owned or shelter dogs) and clinical parameters (microfilaremia, parasite burden, presence of symptoms, body condition) were collected as well. RESULTS: Moderate-severe PH was present in 40% of the dogs (RPAD Index < 29.5%), NT-proBNP concentrations being significantly higher compared with dogs that did not have PH. A cutoff for NT-proBNP of ≥ 1178.45 pmol/l showed a sensitivity of 64.3% and a specificity of 95.5% for the presence of moderate-severe PH. Older dogs and dogs from shelters showed significantly higher NT-proBNP concentrations. Dogs with symptoms and low body condition presented significantly higher NT-proBNP concentrations as well. CONCLUSIONS: The determination of NT-pro-BNP concentration can be a useful tool in the diagnostic work-up of dogs with heartworm disease and associated PH and can help to identify animals in the more advanced stage of this disorder.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37592348/