Breed differences in natriuretic peptides in healthy dogs.
BACKGROUND
Measurement of plasma concentration of natriuretic peptides (NPs) is suggested to be of value in diagnosis of cardiac disease in dogs, but many factors other than cardiac status may influence their concentrations. Dog breed potentially is 1 such factor.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate breed variation in plasma concentrations of pro-atrial natriuretic peptide 31-67 (proANP 31-67) and N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in healthy dogs.


METHODS
535 healthy, privately owned dogs of 9 breeds were examined at 5 centers as part of the European Union (EU) LUPA project.


METHODS
Absence of cardiovascular disease or other clinically relevant organ-related or systemic disease was ensured by thorough clinical investigation. Plasma concentrations of proANP 31-67 and NT-proBNP were measured by commercially available ELISA assays.


RESULTS
Overall significant breed differences were found in proANP 31-67 (P < .0001) and NT-proBNP (P < .0001) concentrations. Pair-wise comparisons between breeds differed in approximately 50% of comparisons for proANP 31-67 as well as NT-proBNP concentrations, both when including all centers and within each center. Interquartile range was large for many breeds, especially for NT-proBNP. Among included breeds, Labrador Retrievers and Newfoundlands had highest median NT-proBNP concentrations with concentrations 3 times as high as those of Dachshunds. German Shepherds and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels had the highest median proANP 31-67 concentrations, twice the median concentration in Doberman Pinschers.


CONCLUSIONS
Considerable interbreed variation in plasma NP concentrations was found in healthy dogs. Intrabreed variation was large in several breeds, especially for NT-proBNP. Additional studies are needed to establish breed-specific reference ranges.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
K
K
Sjöstrand
G
G
Wess
I
I
Ljungvall
J
J
Häggström
A-C
AC
Merveille
M
M
Wiberg
V
V
Gouni
J
J
Lundgren Willesen
S
S
Hanås
A-S
AS
Lequarré
L
L
Mejer Sørensen
J
J
Wolf
L
L
Tiret
M
M
Kierczak
S
S
Forsberg
K
K
McEntee
G
G
Battaille
E
E
Seppälä
K
K
Lindblad-Toh
M
M
Georges
Hannes
H
Lohi
V
V
Chetboul
M
M
Fredholm
K
K
Höglund
D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood; D004285:Dogs / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D013045:Species Specificity
D045265:Natriuretic Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C054548:atrial natriuretic factor prohormone (31-67); C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor
Canine; Interbreed variation; Intrabreed variation; NT-proBNP; Plasma; proANP 31-67