Holter Monitoring in Clinically Healthy Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Wire‐Haired Dachshunds, and Cairn Terriers

BackgroundIncreased heart rate (HR) and decreased heart rate variability (HRV) are evident in some dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD).ObjectivesEvaluation of the factors influencing HR and HRV (assessed by the vasovagal tonus index; VVTI) and their change over time in dogs with DMVD.AnimalsClient‐owned dogs (n = 257) with DMVD recruited from first opinion practice.MethodsProspective longitudinal follow‐up at six‐monthly intervals of dogs with DMVD. Dogs followed up for at least 18 months (n = 102) were grouped according to their outcome as dogs dying/euthanized because of cardiac disease (n = 28; Group 1), noncardiac disease (n = 40; Group 2) and dogs alive (n = 34; Group 3). HR and VVTI were measured on 1‐minute ECG recordings. Repeated measures linear models were constructed to investigate the factors that influence HR and VVTI and their changes over time.ResultsHeart rate and VVTI were affected by disease severity and were different in Cavaliers compared to other breeds. Group 1 and Group 2 dogs underwent an increase in HR and decrease in VVTI, evident at least 18 months before death. Group 1 had a further decrease in VVTI followed by an increase in HR approximately 1 year and 6 months before death, respectively.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceDogs with DMVD have an increase in HR and decrease in HRV over a year before death, with greater changes in those dogs dying/euthanized because of cardiac disease. Both HR and VVTI can potentially be regarded as biomarkers for all‐cause mortality.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Longitudinal Electrocardiographic Evaluation of Dogs with Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease

López-Alvarez

Boswood

Moonarmart

et al. 2014

“…Results have shown substantial breed differences in plasma concentrations of the natriuretic peptides pro‐ANP 31‐67 and NT‐proBNP,11 prompting cautiousness when using them as biomarkers for heart disease. When investigating a subpopulation of the dogs, we also found breed differences in blood pressure and heart rate in consistency with other studies,12, 13, 14 and in urinary epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations 15…”

supporting

confidence: 91%

Effect of Breed on Plasma Endothelin‐1 Concentration, Plasma Renin Activity, and Serum Cortisol Concentration in Healthy Dogs

Höglund

Lequarré

Ljungvall

et al. 2016

Self Cite

BackgroundThere are breed differences in several blood variables in healthy dogs.ObjectiveInvestigate breed variation in plasma endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) concentration, plasma renin activity, and serum cortisol concentration.AnimalsFive‐hundred and thirty‐one healthy dogs of 9 breeds examined at 5 centers (2–4 breeds/center).MethodsProspective observational study. Circulating concentrations of ET‐1 and cortisol, and renin activity, were measured using commercially available assays. Absence of organ‐related or systemic disease was ensured by thorough clinical investigations, including blood pressure measurement, echocardiography, ECG, blood and urine analysis.ResultsMedian ET‐1 concentration was 1.29 (interquartile range [IQR], 0.97–1.82) pg/mL, median cortisol concentration 46.0 (IQR, 29.0–80.8) nmol/L, and median renin activity 0.73 (IQR, 0.48–1.10) ng/mL/h in all dogs. Overall, breed differences were found in ET‐1 and cortisol concentrations, and renin activity (P < .0001 for all). Pair‐wise comparisons between breeds differed in 67% of comparisons for ET‐1, 22% for cortisol, and 19% for renin activity, respectively. Within centers, breed differences were found at 5/5 centers for ET‐1, 4/5 centers for cortisol, and 2/5 centers for renin activity. Newfoundlands had highest median ET‐1 concentration, 3 times higher than Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Doberman Pinschers, and Dachshunds. Median renin activity was highest in Dachshunds, twice the median value in Newfoundlands and Boxers. Median cortisol concentration was highest in Finnish Lapphunds, almost 3 times higher than in Boxers.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceBreed variation might be important to take into consideration when interpreting test results in clinical studies.

“…The breed variation could partly be explained by genetic background, as illustrated by the closely related breeds, German and Belgian Shepherds, having very similar distributions of both proANP 31‐67 and NT‐proBNP. Previous studies have shown breed differences in cardiovascular variables such as blood pressure, heart rate, and catecholamine concentrations 41, 42, 43. Tachycardia has been associated with increased plasma concentrations of ANP in people as well as in dogs and has been suggested to depend primarily on increased atrial pressure 44, 45.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breed Differences in Natriuretic Peptides in Healthy Dogs

Sjöstrand

Wess

Ljungvall

et al. 2014

Self Cite

BackgroundMeasurement of plasma concentration of natriuretic peptides (NPs) is suggested to be of value in diagnosis of cardiac disease in dogs, but many factors other than cardiac status may influence their concentrations. Dog breed potentially is 1 such factor.ObjectiveTo investigate breed variation in plasma concentrations of pro‐atrial natriuretic peptide 31‐67 (proANP 31‐67) and N‐terminal B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) in healthy dogs.Animals535 healthy, privately owned dogs of 9 breeds were examined at 5 centers as part of the European Union (EU) LUPA project.MethodsAbsence of cardiovascular disease or other clinically relevant organ‐related or systemic disease was ensured by thorough clinical investigation. Plasma concentrations of proANP 31‐67 and NT‐proBNP were measured by commercially available ELISA assays.ResultsOverall significant breed differences were found in proANP 31‐67 (P < .0001) and NT‐proBNP (P < .0001) concentrations. Pair‐wise comparisons between breeds differed in approximately 50% of comparisons for proANP 31‐67 as well as NT‐proBNP concentrations, both when including all centers and within each center. Interquartile range was large for many breeds, especially for NT‐proBNP. Among included breeds, Labrador Retrievers and Newfoundlands had highest median NT‐proBNP concentrations with concentrations 3 times as high as those of Dachshunds. German Shepherds and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels had the highest median proANP 31‐67 concentrations, twice the median concentration in Doberman Pinschers.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceConsiderable interbreed variation in plasma NP concentrations was found in healthy dogs. Intrabreed variation was large in several breeds, especially for NT‐proBNP. Additional studies are needed to establish breed‐specific reference ranges.