Platelet aggregation in dogs with mitral valve regurgitation.
OBJECTIVE
To compare platelet aggregation in healthy dogs and dogs with mitral valve regurgitation (MVR) to determine whether regurgitation had an effect on platelet function.


METHODS
32 dogs with MVR and 43 healthy dogs.


METHODS
Platelet aggregation was measured with an aggregometer, using adenosine 5'-diphosphate as the aggregating agent, and the maximum aggregation and the enhancement of platelet sensitivity (EPS) values were calculated.


RESULTS
Platelet count and maximum aggregation were not significantly different between healthy dogs and dogs with MVR. However, EPS values in dogs with MVR were significantly higher than values in healthy dogs. Platelet count and maximum aggregation were not significantly different between dogs classified as New York Heart Association functional class I or II and dogs classified as functional class III or IV; however, EPS values were significantly higher in dogs classified as functional class III or IV.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that platelet aggregation is decreased in dogs with MVR and that the EPS value may be more sensitive to differences in disease severity than in measurement of maximum aggregation.
Tanaka
R
R
Department of Veterinary Surgery and the Tokyo University of Agriculture & Technology Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Tokyo University of Agriculture & Technology, Japan.
Yamane
Y
Y
D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000662:veterinary; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate