title: Cardiac troponins as indicators of acute myocardial damage in dogs.
abstract: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and T (cTnT) have a high sequence homology across phyla and are sensitive and specific markers of myocardial damage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Cardiac Reader, a human point-of-care system for the determination of cTnT and myoglobin, and the Abbott Axsym System for the determination of cTnI and creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) in healthy dogs and in dogs at risk for acute myocardial damage because of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) and blunt chest trauma (BCT). In healthy dogs (n = 56), cTnI was below detection limits (<0.1 microg/L) in 35 of 56 dogs (reference range 0-0.7 microg/L), and cTnT was not measurable (<0.05 ng/mL) in all but 1 dog. At presentation, cTnI, CK-MB, myoglobin, and lactic acid were all significantly higher in dogs with GDV (n = 28) and BCT (n = 8) than in control dogs (P < .001), but cTnT was significantly higher only in dogs with BCT (P = .033). Increased cTnI or cTnT values were found in 26 of 28 (highest values 1.1-369 microg/L) and 16 of 28 dogs (0.1-1.7 ng/mL) with GDV, and in 6 of 8 (2.3-82.4 microg/L) and 3 of 8 dogs (0.1-0.29 ng/mL) with BCT, respectively. In dogs suffering from GDV, cTnI and cTnT increased further within the first 48 hours (P < .001). Increased cardiac troponins suggestive of myocardial damage occurred in 93% of dogs with GDV and 75% with BCT. cTnI appeared more sensitive, but cTnT may be a negative prognostic indicator in GDV. Both systems tested seemed applicable for the measurement of canine cardiac troponins, with the Cardiac Reader particularly suitable for use in emergency settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Division of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty of the University of Bern, Switzerland. iwan.burgener@kkh.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Iwan A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Burgener
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kovacevic
authors.forename: G Neal
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Mauldin
authors.forename: Christophe W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lombard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D013271:Gastric Dilatation / Q000662:veterinary; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009211:Myoglobin / Q000097:blood; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000662:veterinary*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013277:Stomach Volvulus / Q000662:veterinary; D019209:Troponin C / Q000097:blood*; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009211:Myoglobin; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D019209:Troponin C; D019210:Troponin I