Evaluation of plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations in dogs with and without cardiac disease.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations in a large, diverse population of dogs with and without cardiac disease and to define the upper reference limit for the biomarker in this species.


METHODS
Cross-sectional single center study.


METHODS
1,134 dogs.


METHODS
Dogs underwent blood sample collection, physical examination, ECG, and echocardiographic and thoracic radiographic evaluations. Cardiac status was graded by use of a 9-grade cardiac disease classification system and a simplified 4-stage cardiac scoring system. Vertebral heart score (VHS) was assessed in 280 dogs. Associations of plasma NT-proBNP concentrations with multiple variables were evaluated via univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis. Sensitivity and specificity of NT-proBNP concentrations and of VHS to discriminate between dogs with and without clinical signs of cardiac disease were evaluated via receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis.


RESULTS
974 dogs had cardiac disease, 37 had noncardiac-related disease, and 123 were healthy. Plasma NT-proBNP concentrations correlated with cardiac grade and stage; VHS was also associated with cardiac grade. At a cutoff of 874 pmol/L, sensitivity and specificity of NT-proBNP concentration to detect clinical signs of cardiac disease were 70% and 83%, respectively; for VHS, sensitivity and specificity were 56% and 85%, respectively, at a cutoff of 11.5. Mean NT-proBNP concentration was significantly increased in dogs with cardiac-related dyspnea or coughing, compared with dogs in which these signs were noncardiac related.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggested that 900 pmol/L is the upper reference limit of plasma NT-proBNP concentration in dogs. This biomarker may be a useful tool for staging of cardiac disease and identifying cardiac-related coughing or dyspnea in this species.
California Animal Hospital Veterinary Specialty Group, 1736 S Sepulveda Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA. settingerdvm@gmail.com
Stephen J
SJ
Ettinger
Giosi
G
Farace
Scott D
SD
Forney
Michelle
M
Frye
Andrew
A
Beardow
D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain