title: Evaluation of the association between plasma concentration of N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide and outcome in cats with cardiomyopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether plasma N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide (NT-proANP) concentration could predict the outcome (survival duration) of cats with cardiomyopathy (CM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  51 cats with CM (25 with and 26 without congestive heart failure [CHF]) and 17 healthy cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cats were thoroughly examined and assigned to 1 of 3 groups (control, CM with CHF, and CM alone). Plasma NT-proANP concentrations were measured by use of a human proANP(1-98) ELISA. Survival durations were compared between CM groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma NT-proANP concentrations differed significantly among the 3 groups, and survival durations differed significantly between the 2 CM groups. Median (range) NT-proANP concentration was 413 fmol/mL (52 to 940 fmol/mL) in the control group, 1,254 fmol/mL (167 to 2,818 fmol/mL) in the CM alone group, and 3,208 fmol/mL (1,189 to 15,462 fmol/mL) in the CM with CHF group. At a cutoff of 517 fmol/mL, NT-proANP concentration had a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 82% for detecting CM. Multivariate analysis revealed that only the variable left atrium-to-aortic diameter ratio was a significant predictor of survival duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma NT-proANP concentration may have potential as a testing marker for distinguishing healthy cats from cats with CM. It may also be useful for distinguishing CM cats with CHF from those without CHF The value of NT-proANP concentration as a predictor of survival duration was not supported in this study and requires further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany. tanja.zimmering@tiho-hannover.de
authors.forename: Tanja M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Zimmering
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hungerbühler
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meneses
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nolte
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C099254:N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide; D011498:Protein Precursors; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor