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Research article2014Peer reviewed

R-R interval variations influence the degree of mitral regurgitation in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease

Reimann, M. J.; Møller, J. E.; Häggström, Jens; Markussen, B.; Holen, A. E. W.; Falk, T.; Olsen, L. H.

Abstract

Mitral regurgitation (MR) due to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is a frequent finding in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs). Sinus arrhythmia and atrial premature complexes leading to R-R interval variations occur in dogs. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the duration of the RR interval immediately influences the degree of MR assessed by echocardiography in dogs. Clinical examination including echocardiography was performed in 103 privately-owned dogs: 16 control Beagles, 70 CKCSs with different degree of MR and 17 dogs of different breeds with clinical signs of congestive heart failure due to MMVD. The severity of MR was evaluated in apical four-chamber view using colour Doppler flow mapping (maximum % of the left atrium area) and colour Doppler M-mode (duration in ms). The influence of the ratio between present and preceding R-R interval on MR severity was evaluated in 10 consecutive R-R intervals using a linear mixed model for repeated measurements.MR severity was increased when a short R-R interval was followed by a long R-R interval in CKCSs with different degrees of MR (P<0.005 when adjusted for multiple testing). The relationship was not significant in control dogs with minimal MR and in dogs with severe MR and clinical signs of heart failure. In conclusion, MR severity increases in long R-R intervals when these follow a short R-R interval in CKCSs with different degrees of MR due to asymptomatic MMVD. Thus, R-R interval variations may affect the echocardiographic grading of MR in CKCSs. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Animal model; Mitral regurgitation; R-R interval variations; Sinus arrhythmia; Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Published in

Veterinary Journal
2014, Volume: 199, number: 3, pages: 348-354
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.01.001

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/66624