title: The effect of noncardiac disease on plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentration in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of noncardiac disease on c-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (cBNP) concentrations in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban university veterinary hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight apparently healthy dogs, 28 dogs with cardiac disease (14 CHF, 14 non-CHF), and 81 dogs with primary noncardiac diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  none.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma was collected from each dog and analyzed for active (cBNP) B-type natriuretic peptide using an assay that is being investigated for commercial use (Biosite).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dogs with CHF had significantly higher plasma cBNP concentrations than dogs with subclinical cardiac disease, apparently healthy dogs, or dogs with primary noncardiac disease. However, 21% (28/133) of dogs without CHF (including healthy dogs, dogs with primary noncardiac disease, and dogs with subclinical cardiac disease) had cBNP concentrations above previously identified diagnostic thresholds for CHF, reiterating the importance of reestablishing new diagnostic cutoffs when considering comorbidities affecting B-type natriuretic peptide levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A clinically relevant proportion of nondyspneic dogs with primary noncardiac diseases have increased cBNP concentrations that exceed previously identified diagnostic thresholds, potentially limiting the ability of this test to identify CHF when noncardiac comorbidities exist. Interpretation of increased cBNP concentrations in such cases must be appropriately interpreted with further diagnostic investigation.
authors.affiliation: Division of SafetyCall International, Bloomington, MN 55425, USA.
authors.forename: Justine A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Herndon
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rishniw
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004285:Dogs; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain