title: Screening for dilated cardiomyopathy in Great Danes in the United Kingdom.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Great Danes (GD) are predisposed to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), but little is known about progression, clinical manifestations, or inheritance in dogs in the UK. For echocardiographic screening, breed-specific reference intervals (RI) are required.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To document the prevalence, clinical manifestations, and inheritance of DCM in UK GD. To establish RI for Doppler echocardiography (ECHO) in GD.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and seven client-owned GDs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Echocardiographic screening study. Dogs were scored on ECHO and ECG variables and classified as normal (NORM), equivocal (EQUIV), or affected (AFX). Forty NORM dogs were used to determine RI for ECHO. Pedigrees from all dogs were examined for mode of inheritance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of DCM in this population, based on score, was 35.6%. Significant differences in M mode left ventricular dimensions (MMLVD) were identified between male and female dogs (P < .011). RI for MMLVD and transformed MMLVD (allometric scaling) were lower than previously suggested. When dogs were reclassified using amended RI for MMLVD, prevalence increased to 47%. End-systolic volume index more reliably identified AFX dogs than other systolic function indices. Ventricular arrhythmias (VA) were commonly identified, with the highest prevalence in AFX dogs (54%). Pedigree analysis suggested an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of DCM in UK GD is higher than previously reported and autosomal dominant inheritance is likely. Sex or body weight-dependent RI should be used for ECHO in GD and current RI might underestimate ESVI in GD. VA might play an important role in GD with DCM.
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK. hmc79@liverpool.ac.uk
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fonfara
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-Alvarez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cripps
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dukes-McEwan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000662:veterinary; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D015995:Prevalence; D012372:ROC Curve; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology