Effects of carvedilol treatment in dogs with chronic mitral valvular disease.
BACKGROUND
Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system occurs during the development of heart failure in dogs with chronic mitral valvular disease (CMVD).


OBJECTIVE
The use of beta-blockers to modulate the activation of the sympathetic nervous system would be useful in dogs with CMVD.


METHODS
Group A included 13 dogs who received the conventional treatment (digoxin, benazepril, a reduced sodium diet, and codeine, and a diuretic when indicated), and group B included 12 dogs who received the protocol above plus carvedilol (0.3 mg/kg q12h).


METHODS
Blinded, placebo, controlled study.


RESULTS
The main echodopplercardiographic variables, heart rate, biochemical data, functional classification (FC) (New York Heart Association) and quality of life score (functional evaluation of cardiac health questionnaire) were assessed at baseline (TO) and after 3 months (T1). Only group B showed improvement in score of quality of life (13.8 +/- 8.8 versus 6.0 +/- 6.3; P < .001), in FC (2.4 - 0.9 versus 1.8 +/- 0.7; P = .032) and a reduction in systolic blood pressure (151.2 +/- 18.3 versus 124.5 +/- 23.4; P = .021). Two deaths from group A and 1 from B were related to CMVD.


CONCLUSIONS
The studied dose of carvedilol in this group did not improve the sympathetic activation and echocardiographic variables over 3 months of chronic oral treatment. However, the results suggested a beneficial effect on the quality of life score, functional classification, and a reduction on systolic blood pressure.
Marcondes-Santos
Mário
M
Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo, Medical School, and Sena Madureira Veterinary Hospital (Marcondes-Santos), São Paulo, Brazil.
Tarasoutchi
Flavio
F
Mansur
Antonio P
AP
Strunz
Célia M C
CM
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077261:Carvedilol; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004285:Dogs; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002227:Carbazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D000077261:Carvedilol; D009638:Norepinephrine