Changes of cardiac function in diabetic dogs

This study aimed to evaluate cardiac function and compare the concentration of cardiac biomarkers including cardiac troponin I (cTnI), galectin-3 (Gal-3), and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptides (NT-proBNP) in diabetic and control dogs.

Thirty-nine dogs were included. The diabetic and control groups consisted of 19 and 20 dogs, respectively.

Plasma cTnI, Gal-3, and NT-proBNP concentrations were measured in the diabetic and control groups. Echocardiography was performed in all dogs to evaluate cardiac structure and function. Echocardiographic values and cardiac biomarker concentrations between the two groups were compared with the Mann-Whitney U test. The p-value < 0.05 was considered statistical significance.

No evidence of cardiac structural changes was detected in diabetic dogs on two-dimensional echocardiography. The echocardiographic values of diabetic and control dogs were within reference intervals. Echocardiographic changes indicating diastolic dysfunction assessed by spectral flow Doppler echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging were found in diabetic dogs (42.10%) compared with control dogs (10.00%; p = 0.022). Diabetic dogs with durations of diabetes mellitus > 1 year had an increased left ventricular wall thickness and echocardiographic changes suggesting diastolic dysfunction compared with those with duration of diabetes mellitus < 1 year. No evidence of systolic dysfunction was detected in diabetic dogs. No significant difference in plasma cTnI, Gal-3, and NT-proBNP concentrations was found between the two groups.

Echocardiographic changes suggested that left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was detected in diabetic dogs without changes in the concentration of cardiac biomarkers including cTnI, Gal-3, and NT-proBNP compared with the age- and breed-matched control dogs.