title: Hypothyroidism and myocardial failure in two Great Danes.
abstract: Two Great Danes were evaluated for signs of congestive heart failure. Dilated cardiomyopathy was diagnosed in each dog. Both dogs were diagnosed concurrently with primary hypothyroidism. Following appropriate supplementation with levothyroxine, both dogs showed significant improvement in myocardial contractility, as demonstrated by increased fractional shortening and reductions in left atrial size, and left ventricular end-systolic and diastolic diameters. These observations suggest that hypothyroidism may lead to myocardial failure in Great Danes that is partially or fully reversible following thyroid hormone replacement therapy, and that hypothyroidism should be considered in all Great Danes presenting with systolic failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66506-5606, USA.
authors.forename: Dianne E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Harkin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013974:Thyroxine