title: Clinical validation of a proANP 31-67 fragment ELISA in the diagnosis of heart failure in the dog.
abstract: Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a polypeptide hormone found in increased concentrations in the plasma of dogs with heart failure. However, problems arise in using ANP as a diagnostic marker for heart failure because of its short half-life in plasma, proteolysis post-collection and the necessity for a radioimmunoassay. The diagnostic utility of a proANP 31-67 ELISA for the detection of heart failure in dogs was evaluated using plasma collected from 31 dogs with clinical and radiographic signs of heart failure and control samples from 40 dogs considered to be free of cardiac disease. Log proANP 31-67 levels were significantly higher in the heart failure group (P < 0.001). In this population of dogs, using a cut-off value of 1,750 fmol/ml, the sensitivity and specificity of the assay were 83.9 per cent and 97.5 per cent, respectively. Using a cut-off of 1,350 fmol/ml, the sensitivity and specificity were 93.5 per cent and 72.5 per cent, respectively. It is concluded that a proANP 31-67 fragment ELISA should prove to be a useful diagnostic aid in naturally occurring canine heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boswood
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Attree
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Page
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012372:ROC Curve; D011859:Radiography; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D011498:Protein Precursors; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor