Evaluation of circulating amino terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide concentration in cardiac valvular disease and assessing disease severity in dogs

One of the most important heart diseases in dogs is chronic valvular disease which can be evaluated by diagnostic ways such as physical examination, electrocardiography, echocardiography and…. Traditionally, the evaluation of heart function has been accomplished by electrocardiography, radiography, and echocardiography. Within the past 15 years, cardiac biomarkers, primarily cardiac troponin and natriuretic peptides, have become a mainstay for both the diagnosis and patient monitoring in human heart disease. Recently, veterinary research has provided insight into the utility of these blood-based cardiac biomarkers in canine and feline patients.
The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the chronic valvular disease and assess its severity via evaluation of circulating amino terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide.
This survey was done on 20 dogs which had valvular disease and on 20 control dogs. Serum NT-pro BNP concentration was measured with an ELISA validated for use in dogs. Results of physical examination, thoracic radiography, echocardiography, and serum biochemical analysis were recorded for dogs with cardiac disease.
Serum NT-pro BNP concentration was significantly higher in dogs with cardiac disease than in control dogs. Serum NT-pro BNP concentration in group B2 and C was correlated with left atrial to aortic ratio.
According to this study, results suggested that serum NT-pro BNP concentration could be a useful adjunct clinical test for diagnosing chronic valvular disease and assessing the severity of disease in dogs.