Evaluation of add on effect of carvedilol on standard protocol of digoxin, frusemide and benazepril in the management of dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs

Abstract

This is a prospective, controlled, randomized clinical trial in canine patients with overt Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). We hypothesized that the addition of the third generation beta-blocker carvedilol to the standard treatment of diuretic (furosemide), inotropic support (digoxin) and ACE-inhibitor (benazepril) would have beneficial effects over cardiac function and quality of life (QoL) that would be measurable 90 days post-treatment. 16 dogs diagnosed with overt DCM were recruited. They underwent clinical examination, electrocardiography, echocardiography and neurohormonal profiling (NT-proBNP and NO). Dogs were divided in two groups, receiving standard therapy or standard therapy plus carvedilol and subjected to re-evaluation on 90 days post-treatment. Our results indicated that the addition of carvedilol to the standard therapy improved echocardiographic indices of systolic function (FS and EF), reduced NT-proBNP and NO serum levels and quality of life within the group but did not showed the significant improvement over standard therapy. This suggested that the addition of carvedilol to the standard therapy in canine patients with overt DCM might have beneficial effects in cardiac function and quality of life in the treatment was continued for longer period.

Application of Combined Detection of Echocardiography and Serum NT-ProBNP in the Diagnosis of Diastolic Heart Failure and Its Effect on Left Ventricular Morphology and Diastolic Function

“…Echocardiography is a widely used diagnostic method in clinical practice that can objectively and accurately evaluate the cardiac function of patients and monitor the changes in cardiac function in real time, with the advantages of noninvasiveness, easy operation, and repeatability. BNP is a peptide cardiogenic hormone in the natriuretic family and is synthesized and secreted by ventricular myocytes [ 16 – 18 ]. NT-ProBNP is an inactive peptide fragment produced 1 : 1 with BNP and exists in the blood circulation.…”

Analysis on the Clinical Effect of High-Dose Glucocorticoids Combined with Immunosuppressants on Patients with Myasthenia Gravis Undergoing Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

“…The majority of patients proceed to generalized muscle fatigability and weakness within 24 months after the disease onset [ 1 , 2 ]. Investigations have found that MG, which has affected 730000 patients across the whole world, can occur at any age and be specifically divided into generalized and ocular types, with higher prevalence rate in women than in men [ 3 ]. At present, the top priority for MG treatment is drug therapy, in which glucocorticoids (GCS) and immunosuppressants have been widely used, as GCS can effectively improve thymus immune function, inhibit germinal center formation, and promote the secretion of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, thus greatly relieving clinical symptoms [ 4 , 5 ].…”

Therapeutic Efficacy of Carvedilol and Hawthorn Extract in Management of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs

“…Similarly, Nikolaidis et al (2006) also reported improved cardiac output, stroke volume and decreased left ventricular end diastolic pressure with oral administration of carvedilol in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy. The addition of carvedilol to the standard therapy (digoxin, frusemide and benazepril) improved echocardiographic indices of systolic function (FS and EF), reduced NT-pro BNP levels but statistically there was no significant improvement over standard therapy (Kumar et al, 2018).…”