Doppler echocardiography-derived evidence of pulmonary arterial hypertension in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease: 86 cases (2001-2005).
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of Doppler echocardiography-derived evidence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (DEE-PAH) in dogs with mitral valve disease (MVD) classified according to the International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council (ISACHC) heart failure classification scheme and various echocardiographic and Doppler indices of MVD severity.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
617 dogs examined from 2001 to 2005 with MVD in ISACHC classes I to III.


METHODS
Dogs were examined echocardiographically. Criteria used for systolic and diastolic DEE-PAH were detection of high tricuspid (> or = 2.5 m/s) and telediastolic pulmonic (> or = 2.0 m/s) valvular peak regurgitant jet velocities, respectively, by use of continuous-wave Doppler echocardiography.


RESULTS
86 (13.9%) dogs with MVD had a diagnosis of DEE-PAH. Severity and prevalence of DEE-PAH increased with ISACHC class (3.0%, 16.9%, 26.7%, and 72.2% prevalences for ISACHC classes Ia, Ib, II, and III, respectively). A significant correlation between systolic or diastolic pulmonary arterial pressure and left atrial-to-aortic diameter ratio (LA/Ao) was detected. Doppler echocardiography-derived evidence of pulmonary arterial hypertension was detected in 18 dogs with values of LA/Ao within reference range, all of which had moderate (n = 2 dogs) or severe (16) mitral valve regurgitation on color Doppler imaging.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence and degree of DEE-PAH were related to the severity of MVD. Changes associated with DEEPAH may be detected in early stages of the disease, but only in dogs with severe mitral valve regurgitation.
Serres
François J
FJ
Unité de Cardiologie d'Alfort, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort Institution, 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704 Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France.
Chetboul
Valérie
V
Tissier
Renaud
R
Carlos Sampedrano
Carolina
C
Gouni
Vassiliki
V
Nicolle
Audrey P
AP
Pouchelon
Jean-Louis
JL
D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index