Two-dimensional echocardiographic measurements of the left atrium in dogs with cardiac disease.
The aim of the present study was to verify the validity of two-dimensional echocardiographic (2DE) measurement technique in dogs with left atrial enlargement. Thirty-one dogs with clinically and echocardiographically proven cardiac diseases were randomly selected. The left atrial right-to-left diameter (La(r-l)) and the diameter of the left atrium just above the mitral annulus (La(ama)) as well as the ratio of left atrial to aortic diameter ( La/Ao ) were measured by 2DE. The La (r-l) / La(ama) ratio was independent of body weight (R(2) = 0.0006) and age (R(2) = 0.0012), respectively. A significant linear relationship was found between La(ama) and La/Ao (the ratio that expresses the severity of atrial enlargement): La(ama) = 1.2238 La/Ao + 1.1608 (R(2) = 021; P < 0.01). There was also a positive linear relationship between La(r-l) and La/Ao : La(r-l) = 1.6876 La/Ao + 1.2648 (R(2) = 0.27; P < 0.005). In our dogs with cardiac disease, the La(r-l) / La(ama) ratio showed no significant relation to the La/Ao index (R(2) = 0.028). Thus, La(r-l) / La(ama) proved to be independent of the severity of atrial enlargement. Based on the strong relationship stated in the equation between La ama and La r-l [ La(r-l) / La(ama) = 1.31159 (95% confidence interval)], La(ama) can also be used for the assessment of left atrial size even in dogs with cardiac disease.
Dudás-Györki
Zoltán
Z
Szent István University, Department and Clinic of Internal Medicine, P.O. Box 2 H-1400 Budapest, Hungary. dudas.gyorki.zoltan@aotk.szie.hu
Bende
Boglárka
B
Hetyey
Csaba
C
Manczur
Ferenc
F
Reiczigel
Jeno
J
Vörös
Károly
K
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male