title: Comparison of primary mitral valve disease in German Shepherd dogs and in small breeds.
abstract: The case records of 58 German Shepherds (GS group) affected by mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and/or mitral valve regurgitation (MR), and 49 dogs weighing < 15 kg (D group), affected by chronic valvular disease (CVD) were reviewed. The dogs of the GS group were presented more often without a detectable heart murmur (p < 0.01), and less frequently with a high intensity heart murmur (p < 0.01). Atrial fibrillation (AF) was more common in the GS group (p < 0.001). MVP associated with mitral valve thickening was more common in the D group (p < 0.001). Fractional shortening (FS) was lower (p < 0.0001) and end-systolic volume index (ESV-I) was increased (p < 0.0001) in the GS group, whereas end-diastolic volume index (EDV-I) did not differ between the 2 groups. Prevalence and severity of pulmonary hypertension were similar in the 2 groups. Dogs with mitral valve disease weighing more than 20 kg had a 5.8 higher chance of developing decreased FS, increased ESV-I, AF and ventricular arrhythmias. In the GS group, the decreased FS and increased ESV-I were not associated with the presence of AF or ventricular arrhythmias (p > 0.05). It appears that GS may be affected both by mitral valve prolapse and mitral insufficiency. It also appears that a comparatively large proportion of GS shows no major mitral valve thickening or MVP, but still presents with significant mitral regurgitation, possibly suggesting a different cause for the important incompetence observed in most cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Via Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10045 Grugliasco (To), Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borgarelli
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zini
authors.forename: Gino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Agnolo
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tarducci
authors.forename: Roberto A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Santilli
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chiavegato
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tursi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prunotto
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Häggström