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Published on: November 21, 2016
Weekly variability of plasma and serum NT-proBNP measurements in normal dogs
Heidi B Kellihan1, Mark A Oyama, Caryn A Reynolds
1University of Wisconsin, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine, 2015 Linden Dr. Madison, WI 53711, USA. kellihanh@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu
Objectives:
To determine the weekly variability of serum and plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations in healthy dogs.
Animals, Materials And Methods:
Fifty-three normal dogs were examined prospectively. Serum (n=25) or plasma (n=28) samples were obtained for NT-proBNP assay at one week interval for 3 consecutive weeks.
Results:
Median serum or plasma NT-proBNP concentration did not change over 3 consecutive weeks. Twenty-two of 53 dogs (42%) had at least one NT-proBNP value >500 pmol/L, including 14 dogs with at least one serum NT-proBNP concentration >500 pmol/L and 8 dogs with at least one plasma NT-proBNP concentration >500 pmol/L during the 3-week sampling period. The difference between the maximum and minimum NT-proBNP value obtained over the 3-week sampling period was <100 pmol/L in 40% of dogs, between 100 and 200 pmol/L in 40% of dogs, and >200 pmol/L in 20% of dogs. Of the 19 dogs with a value >500 pmol/L on either week 1 or 2, 11 dogs (58%) had a subsequent NT-proBNP value <500 pmol/L on either week 2 or 3.
Conclusions:
There is a high degree of variability in weekly serum and plasma NT-proBNP values in healthy dogs. Individual variability should be considered when interpreting NT-proBNP results in dogs.
