Cardiac biomarkers for early detection of heart diseases in small animals

Background: Heart failure can develop secondary to various heart diseases (e.g. mitral valvular insufficiency, congenital heart defects, heart worm infection). The clinical signs of heart failure can be confused with those of other conditions, such as respiratory disease. Therefore, specific, sensitive, rapid and inexpensive blood tests for heart failure are desirable. Cardiac troponins, natriuretic peptides and cytokines have been more recently used as indicators of heart disease in humans and animals. These peptides are sensitive to changes in vasoconstriction and dilation within the heart and are used for the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure. Methods: Previously developed and newly developed cardiac biomarkers will be discussed for understating clinical implications and diagnostic values in heart diseases in small animals