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Prognostic indicators for dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy.
Michele Borgarelli1, Roberto A Santilli, David Chiavegato
1Department Patologia Animale, Faculty Veterinary Medicine, Grugliasco, Italy. michele.borgarelli@unito.it
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
|February 25, 2006
Summary
In dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy, a restrictive transmitral flow (TMF) pattern is a key indicator of shorter survival. Other factors like heart failure class and ascites also predict prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Canine Medicine
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common cardiac disease in dogs.
- Prognostic indicators for DCM in dogs are crucial for clinical management.
- Previous studies have identified various clinical and echocardiographic factors, but their prognostic significance varies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prognostic value of clinical, ECG, echocardiographic, and Doppler echocardiographic variables in dogs with DCM.
- To identify key predictors of survival in canine DCM patients.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study of 63 dogs diagnosed with DCM.
- Evaluation of 11 variables including heart failure class, ascites, atrial fibrillation, ejection fraction (EF), end-systolic volume index (ESV-I), and transmitral flow (TMF) pattern.
- Survival analysis using Kaplan-Meier curves.
Main Results:
- Median survival time was 671 days.
- Severity of heart failure, presence of ascites, ESV-I > 140 mL/m², EF < 25%, and restrictive TMF pattern were significantly associated with reduced survival.
- In dogs with adequate TMF recordings, the restrictive TMF pattern was the most significant negative prognostic indicator.
Conclusions:
- A restrictive TMF pattern is a valuable negative prognostic indicator in dogs with DCM.
- Heart failure class, ascites, ESV-I, and EF are also important prognostic indicators, especially when TMF patterns cannot be adequately assessed.