ABSTRACT. Plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured in 6 dogs with experimental mitral regurgitation (MR) and 19 canine patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic congestive heart failure (CHF). In dogs with experimental MR, ANP and BNP concentrations were significantly correlated with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) (ANP; r=0.852, P=0.0004, BNP; r=0.832, P=0.0008). ANP level was shown to have a predominant effect on PCWP in comparison with BNP using multiple regression analysis. In canine patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic CHF, ANP and BNP concentrations were significantly different among the heart failure classes according to the New York Heart Association functional classification (ANP; P=0.0165, BNP; P=0.0005). In addition, ANP and BNP levels in dogs with decompensated heart failure (n=10) significantly increased in comparison with those in dogs with compensated heart failure (n=9). There was however no correlation between ANP and BNP levels in each heart failure class. In conclusion, plasma ANP and BNP levels may become predictors of PCWP and the severity of heart failure in dogs with MR, although further investigations on ANP and BNP levels in more clinical cases are required. -KEY WORDS: atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, canine, heart failure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 61 (5): [523][524][525][526][527][528][529] 1999
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Relationship between PCWP and plasma levels of ANP and BNP in dogs with experimental MRAnimals: Six healthy mongrel dogs, 5 males and 1 female, weighing between 6.5 and 12.0 kg, were used for the surgical creation of MR.Methods: Anesthesia was induced with sodium thiopental (25 mg/kg, IV) and maintained with isoflurane (1.3%) and oxygen (1.0 l/min). A 5-Fr balloon catheter was introduced into a 6-Fr sheath placed in the jugular vein and advanced into the pulmonary artery. PCWP was recorded by a polygraph (Bedside Monitor BSM-8502; Nihon Kohden Co., Tokyo, Japan). A 6-Fr 28 cm-long sheath was introduced into the exposed carotid artery and placed into the LV. A bioptome was inserted into the long sheath, and the mitral valvular chordae tendineae was then cut by it to cause significant MR under transesophageal echocardiographic and fluoroscopic guidance, and the surgical site was closed. One week after the operation, a second operation was repeated similarly to the first operation. Postoperative antibiotic (ampicillin 20 mg/kg, PO, BID, for 3 days), and when needed, diuretic (furosemide 2.0-4.0 mg/kg, PO, BID) were given. Two weeks after the second operation, PCWP was recorded in each dog under the general anesthesia as mentioned above.Blood samples were collected from the dogs before the first operation and 2 weeks after the second operation. In addition, the clinical signs of heart failure and physical examination in the dogs with experimental MR were evaluated to be divided into the heart failure classes according to the New York Heart A...