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Research article2015Peer reviewedOpen access

Prevalence and Prognostic Importance of Pulmonary Hypertension in Dogs with Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease

Borgarelli, M.; Abbott, J; Braz-Ruivo, L.; Chiavegato, D.; Crosara, S; Lamb, Ken; Bersås Ljungvall, Ingrid; Poggi, M; Santilli, R.A.; Häggström, Jens

Abstract

BackgroundPulmonary hypertension (PH) is common in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) but its effect on clinical outcome has not been investigated.Hypothesis/objectivesThe presence of PH worsens the outcome in dogs with MMVD. To compare survival times of dogs with MMVD and PH to those without PH.AnimalsTwo hundred and twelve client-owned dogs.MethodsCase review study. Medical records of dogs diagnosed with ACVIM stage B2 and C MMVD between January 2010 and December 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Long-term outcome was determined by telephone interview or from the medical record. End of the observation period was March 2013. PH was identified if tricuspid regurgitation peak velocity was >3m/s.ResultsTwo hundred and twelve were identified. Eighty-three dogs (39%) had PH. PH was more commonly identified in stage C compared to B2 (P<.0001). One hundred and five (49.5%) dogs died during the observation period. Median survival time for the entire study population was 567days (95% CI 512-743). Stage C (P=.003), the presence of PH (P=.009), left atrial to aortic root ratio (LA/Ao) >1.7 (P=.0002), normalized left-ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDn) >1.73 (P=.048), and tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient (TRPG) >55mmHg (P=.009) were associated with worse outcomes in the univariate analyses. The presence of TRPG >55mmHg (HR 1.8 95% CI 1-2.9; P=.05) and LA/Ao>1.7 (HR 2 95% CI 1.2-3.4; P=.01) remained significant predictors of worse outcome in the multivariate analysis.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceIn dogs with MMVD, moderate to severe PH worsens outcome.

Keywords

Canine; Doppler echocardiography; Echocardiography; Heart failure; Heart valve

Published in

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
2015, Volume: 29, number: 2, pages: 569-574
Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL