title: Natural history of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in the boxer dog: a prospective study.
abstract: Boxer arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a disease that may result in sudden death or heart failure.
  
  
  
  To prospectively study the natural history of Boxer ARVC.
  
  
  
  72 dogs (49 ARVC, 23 controls).
  
  
  
  Boxers >1 year of age were recruited for annual reevaluation. CONTROLS were defined as being ≥6 years of age and having <50 ventricular premature complex (VPCs)/24 h. ARVC was defined as ≥300 VPCs/24 h in the absence of other disease. Dogs were genotyped for the striatin deletion when possible. Descriptive statistics were determined for age; VPC number; annual change in VPC number; and left ventricular (LV) echocardiographic dimensions. Survival time was calculated.
  
  
  
  Controls: median age of 7 years (range, 6-10); number of VPCs 12 (range, 4-32). Median time in study of 6 years (range, 2-9). Seventeen of 23 were genotyped (5 positive, 12 negative). ARVC: median age of diagnosis of 6 (range, 1-11). Median time in study 5 years (range, 3-8). A total of 33% were syncopal and 43/49 were genotyped (36 positive, 7 negative). Yearly change in VPCs was 46 (range, -7,699 to 33,524). Annual percentage change in LV dimensions was 0, and change in fractional shortening (FS%) was 2%. Two dogs had FS% <20%. Although ARVC dogs died suddenly, there was no difference in survival time between groups. ARVC median age of survival was 11 years, and for controls was 10 years.
  
  
  
  Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy is a disease of middle age and frequently is associated with the striatin deletion. Syncope occurs in approximately 1/3 of affected dogs; systolic dysfunction is uncommon. The prognosis in many affected dogs is good.
authors: The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, OH.|North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC.
authors: K M
authors: KM
authors: Meurs
authors: The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, OH.|North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC.
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Stern
authors: North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Reina-Doreste
authors: The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, OH.
authors: A W
authors: AW
authors: Spier
authors: The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, OH.
authors: S L
authors: SL
authors: Koplitz
authors: The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, OH.
authors: R D
authors: RD
authors: Baumwart
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D019571:Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Boxer; Holter; Striatin; Sudden death; Ventricular premature complex