title: Familial ventricular arrhythmias in boxers.
abstract: The purposes of this study were to evaluate families of Boxers with ventricular arrhythmias to determine whether this disorder is a familial trait and, if so, to determine the mode of inheritance. Eighty-two Boxers were evaluated by physical examination, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram. Dogs were considered affected if at least 50 premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) were observed during a 24-hour period. All dogs were at least 6 years of age at evaluation. Complete cardiovascular examinations were performed on dogs from 6 extended families. The 2 most complete pedigrees were used to determine the pattern of inheritance. The number of PVCs observed during a 24-hour period in affected dogs ranged from 112 to 4,894 (mean +/- SD, median; 1,309 +/- 2,609, 1,017). The number of PVCs observed during a 24-hour period in the unaffected dogs ranged from 0 to 16 (7 +/- 10, 12). Pedigree evaluation was performed to determine pattern of inheritance. An autosomal dominant pattern was determined to be most likely because a sex predisposition was not observed, affected individuals were observed in every generation, and 2 affected individuals produced unaffected offspring. We conclude that familial ventricular arrhythmias is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait in some Boxers.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus 43210, USA. meurs.l@osu.edu
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Meurs
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Spier
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lehmkuhl
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Towbin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D004285:Dogs; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*