Assessment of plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentration in Boxers with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether Boxers with a clinical diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) have increased plasma concentrations of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), compared with concentrations in clinically normal dogs.


METHODS
13 Boxers with ARVC, 9 clinically normal Boxers, 10 clinically normal non-Boxer dogs, and 5 hound dogs with systolic dysfunction.


METHODS
All Boxers were evaluated via 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography and echocardiography; the number of ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) per 24 hours was assessed. Hound dogs with cardiac pacing-induced systolic dysfunction (positive control dogs) and clinically normal non-Boxer dogs (negative control dogs) were evaluated echocardiographically. Three milliliters of blood was collected from each dog for measurement of plasma BNP concentration by use of a radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
Mean +/- SD plasma BNP concentration for the ARVC-affected Boxers, clinically normal Boxers, negative control dogs, and positive control dogs was 11.0 +/- 4.6 pg/mL, 7.9 +/- 3.2 pg/mL, 11.5 +/- 4.9 pg/mL, and 100.8 +/- 56.8 pg/mL, respectively. Compared with findings in the positive control group, plasma BNP concentration in each of the other 3 groups was significantly different. There was no significant difference in BNP concentration between the 2 groups of Boxers. A significant correlation between plasma BNP concentration and number of VPCs per 24 hours in the ARVC-affected Boxers was not identified.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant difference in BNP concentration between Boxers with ARVC and clinically normal Boxers was not identified. Results suggest that BNP concentration may not be an indicator of ARVC in Boxers.
Baumwart
Ryan D
RD
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Meurs
Kathryn M
KM
D000818:Animals; D019571:Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D004285:Dogs; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000662:veterinary; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000662:veterinary
D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain