• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.215-220
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between vertebral left atrial size (VLAS) and NT-proBNP levels. Sixty-three dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) were recruited for this study. The MMVD group was classified according to the ACVIM stage based on medical history, clinical signs, and thoracic radiography and echocardiography findings. The N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were measured using fluorescent immunoassay. VLAS and VHS values were measured using a digital caliper in the right lateral view. There were significant differences in VLAS for each American college of veterinary internal medicine (ACVIM) stage (p < 0.01). As the ACVIM stage increased, it tended to increase. Vertebral heart score (VHS) also showed a tendency to increase with the ACVIM stage (p < 0.01). VLAS was divided into three groups: VLAS <2.6, 2.6≤ VLAS <3.1, and VLAS ≥3.1. NT-proBNP values were significantly different between the three groups (p < 0.01), and VLAS and NT-proBNP values showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.756, p < 0.01). In conclusion, there were significant differences among ACVIM stages B1 and B2, B1 and C-D, and B2 and C-D groups regarding VLAS. Furthermore, NT-proBNP increased proportionally as VLAS increased. Measurements of VLAS may be helpful in the diagnosis of MMVD in addition to the existing radiological and echocardiographic methods.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.287-293
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• 2022

Radiographic left atrial dimension (RLAD) is a useful measurement to assess left atrial enlargement in dogs. There are studies on the use of RLAD on various breeds of dogs, but no study on a specific breed with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). This study was conducted to compare RLAD measurements in Maltese dogs with MMVD ACVIM stage B1 and B2, and also to investigate the correlation of RLAD with the LA:Ao ratio. A total of 29 Maltese dogs were the subjects of this study. Each dog was diagnosed with MMVD ACVIM stage B1 or B2 based on physical examination, thoracic radiography, and echocardiography. The vertebral heart size (VHS), RLAD, LVIDDn, and LA:Ao ratio were measured and compared to evaluate the differences. There were significant differences in the RLAD, LVIDDn, and LA:Ao ratio between dogs with MMVD ACVIM stage B1 and those with stage B2. There was a significant correlation between the LA:Ao ratio and both the RLAD and VHS measurements, but the correlation coefficient was higher for RLAD. The RLAD scores exhibited a significant difference between dogs with ACVIM Stage B1 and with those with B2, and these scores had a higher correlation with the LA:Ao ratio measured by echocardiography than with VHS.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2024

Radiographic left atrial dimension (RLAD) is a valuable metric for assessing left atrial enlargement in dogs. While there have been studies on the use of RLAD and the increase in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels based on heart disease stages, there has been no prior research on the correlation between RLAD and CRP. In this study, the objective was to investigate the relationship between the rise in RLAD as myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) stages advance and the increase in CRP levels with MMVD stage progression. In this study, a total of 30 small-breed dogs were included as subjects. These dogs were diagnosed with MMVD at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) stage B1 or B2, or stage C, based on a comprehensive assessment including physical examination, thoracic radiography, and echocardiography. Measurements of VHS and RLAD were compared to assess any significant differences. There were significant differences in RLAD between dogs with MMVD ACVIM stage B1 and those with stage C. The monocytes and CRP levels showed significant differences between ACVIM stage B1, B2 and ACVIM C. Additionally, a significant correlation was observed between the RLAD and VHS measurements. This underscores the notable association between MMVD stage advancement and elevated monocyte and CRP levels. The RLAD scores exhibited a significant difference among dogs with ACVIM stages B1, B2, and C, and significant variations were also observed in monocyte and CRP levels. These results suggest that monocyte and CRP levels may be a valuable diagnostic indicator for heart disease in dogs during the diagnostic evaluation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.263-269
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• 2024

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common cardiac disease in dogs. Vertebral heart score (VHS) is used for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of MMVD, and it is one of the criteria used to distinguish between stages B1 and B2 according to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) guidelines. The thoracic inlet heart score (TIHS) method is simple to perform and provides practitioners with an additional tool for evaluating dogs with clinical signs compatible with MMVD stage B. Previous studies have evaluated TIHS. In our study, we assessed correlations of TIHS with other radiographic and echocardiographic indices in Maltese dogs with MMVD stages B1 and B2. Eighty-seven Maltese dogs with MMVD stage B1 or B2, which visited Chungnam National University Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, were included in this study. Each dog was diagnosed with MMVD ACVIM stage B1 or B2 through physical examination, cardiac auscultation, thoracic radiography, and echocardiography, with evaluation of TIHS, VHS, vertebral left atrial size (VLAS), left atrial to the aotic root ratio (LA:Ao ratio), and left ventricular internal diameter in diastole, normalized for body weight (LVIDDn). TIHS increased as the disease progressed and showed a significant difference between stages B1 and B2. Furthermore, TIHS positively correlated with VHS, LA:Ao ratio, and LVIDDn. The correlation coefficients revealed the strongest significant correlations between TIHS and VHS. In conclusion, TIHS can help diagnose and monitor MMVD in Maltese dogs, in addition to measuring VHS.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.313-317
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• 2017

Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is a new renal biomarker for kidney function. It is almost exclusively eliminated by renal filtration. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the changes in serum ceatinine (CREA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and SDMA concentrations in dogs with chronic mitral valve insufficiency (CMVI), according to the severity of CMVI. The evaluation of the severity of CMVI was performed according to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) classification of heart failure. The dogs were classified into two groups: group 1 (ACVIM B; n = 11) and group 2 (ACVIM C; n = 15). In dogs with advanced CMVI, the serum SDMA concentrations were significantly increased above the normal reference range and were independent of body weight (BW), systolic blood pressure (SBP), or sex. No dog in either group had higher serum CREA concentrations than the upper limit. The serum SDMA concentration may be a better renal marker than serum CREA concentrations for the early diagnoses of renal dysfunction in dogs with CMVI.

• Journal of the korean veterinary medical association
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.137-154
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• 2010

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.34-38
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• 2016

A 13-year-old castrated male mixed breed dog and a 12-year-old castrated male mixed breed cat were referred to the hospital for the treatment of pulmonary edema and azotemia at the same time. To resolve the pulmonary edema and azotemia, intermittent hemodialysis (HD) was performed using ultrafiltration (UF), and the pulmonary edema, azotemia, other electrolyte and acid-base imbalances were improved. This case study demonstrated that when we encountered pulmonary edema patients with diuretic resistance, severe electrolyte imbalance, and impaired renal function complicated by decongestive therapy using diuretics, UF therapy can be considered a life-saving intervention.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2020

Left atrial enlargement (LAE) is an important diagnostic factor in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). It is associated with the onset of congestive heart failure (CHF). Recently, a new radiographic left atrial measurement called vertebral left atrial size (VLAS) was introduced. This can be considered as a left atrial enlargement above 2.3. It appears to be related to the severity of MMVD. However, serial changes in VLAS in relation to disease progression and improvement in patients have yet to be studied. This study aims to assess the value of VLAS as a left atrial size monitoring indicator by examining correlations with VHS, LA/Ao ratio and LVIDDN, and comparing serial changes in dogs. A total of 126 dogs were studied with their owners' consent. The dogs were classified into four MMVD groups (Control, B1, B2, C-D) following the ACVIM Guideline by performing a physical examination, radiography and echocardiography. Besides, 24 and 17 dogs were reevaluated to compare values in relation to the progression and improvement of MMVD. VLAS showed significant increase according to the progress of the MMVD stage. This was the same in the Maltese breed group. A strong positive correlation was found between LVIDDN, VHS, LA/Ao ratio, and VLAS. The results of this study found VLAS to be significantly different according to left atrium size, and there was a correlation between disease progression and VLAS levels in each dog. Therefore, VLAS may be used to detect changes in left atrium size as an additional monitoring index of MMVD.