title: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of pimobendan in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted to examine the effect on heart failure class and survival of pimobendan, an oral calcium-sensitizing inodilator, in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Pimobendan (0.3-0.6 mg/kg body weight/d) or placebo was administered to English Cocker Spaniels (CSs; n = 10) and Doberman Pinschers (DPs: n = 10) that had DCM in addition to background therapy of furosemide, enalapril, and digoxin. Addition of pimobendan to standard triple therapy was associated with a significant improvement in heart failure class, regardless of breed (P < .02, Mann-Whitney rank sum test). Overall, 8 of 10 animals in the pimobendan-treated group, and 1 of 10 animals in the placebo group improved their heart failure status by at least I modified New York Heart Association functional class after initial stabilization (P = .005, Fisher's exact test). Pimobendan had no significant effect on survival in the CSs (P = 0.77, log-rank test), but DPs treated with pimobendan had significantly longer survival times compared with placebo (P < .02, log-rank test), with a median survival time of 329 days in the pimobendan group compared with 50 days in the placebo group, and a hazard ratio of 3.4 (95% confidence interval 1.4-39.8). Pimobendan resulted in significant improvement in heart failure class when added to standard therapy in this group of dogs with DCM, and may have contributed to improved survival in DPs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, Summerhall, Edinburgh, UK. luis-fuentes.1@osu.edu
authors.forename: Virginia Luis
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Corcoran
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: Karsten E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Schober
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kleemann
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Justus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D011379:Prognosis; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013534:Survival; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D011724:Pyridazines; C041648:pimobendan