Relationship between syringomyelia and myxomatous mitral valve disease in Cavalier King Charles spaniels
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Updated: May 13, 2026

Echocardiographic Approaches and Protocols for Comprehensive Phenotypic Characterization of Valvular Heart Disease in Mice
Published on: February 14, 2017
Maiken B T Bach1, Camilla L Stougaard1, Maria S Thøfner1
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Background:
Syringomyelia (SM) and myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) are highly prevalent in Cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCS). Cardiac status in CKCS with and without SM is currently unknown.
Objectives:
To investigate the association between SM and MMVD severity in CKCS and CKCS with SM with and without clinical signs of SM.
Animals:
Fifty-five CKCS: 40 with SM (22 symptomatic and 18 asymptomatic) and 15 without SM.
Methods:
A combined retrospective and prospective study. MRI and echocardiography were used to diagnose SM and MMVD, respectively. The association between SM and MMVD severity (left ventricle internal diameter in diastole normalized to bodyweight [LVIDDN] and left atrium to aortic ratio [LA/Ao]) were tested using multivariable linear regression analysis adjusting for sex and age.
Results:
Overall, no significant difference in LVIDDN and LA/Ao was found between CKCS with or without SM. However, CKCS with symptomatic SM had significantly smaller LVIDDN (1.45 [1.30-1.50]) (median [IQR]) and LA/Ao (1.20 [1.10-1.28]) compared to CKCS with asymptomatic SM (1.60 [1.50-1.90] and 1.40 [1.20-1.75]) as well as CKCS without SM (0.24 [0.03-0.45] and 0.30 [0.05-0.56]) (all P values <.03).
Conclusions And Clinical Importance:
An association between MMVD and SM was not confirmed in this cohort of CKCS, indicating that MMVD and SM do not co-segregate. However, CKCS with symptomatic SM had smaller left ventricle and atrial size compared to CKCS with asymptomatic SM and CKCS without SM.
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