Abstract

RAMIREZ; BERRIO, Alina  and  ARIAS, María Patricia. Correlation between the clinical stage, echocardiographic findings and systemic blood pressure in dogs with Degenerative Disease of the Mitral Valve^¤. Ces. Med. Vet. Zootec. [online]. 2016, vol.11, n.2, pp.61-72. ISSN 1900-9607.

Abstract Background: most studies about Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease (DMVD) in dogs have focused on studying the echocardiographic (ECG) changes without considering changes in systolic, diastolic or mean blood pressure. Objective: to relate echocardiographic alterations and systemic pressure with the clinical stage in patients with DMVD. Methods: a random sample of 23 dogs with DMVD was obtained. A clinical classification of patients was performed based on criteria of the ACVIM. Blood pressure was taken with high-definition oscillometry equipment (HDO-2112-Vet) and then, patients underwent echocardiographic examination. Ultrasonographic features of the valve apparatus were assessed qualitatively, specifically the presence of thickening and prolapse of leaflets and remodelative changes, heart rate (HR), left atrium and aorta ratio (LA/AO), fractional shortening (FS), trans-valvular flows and pressure gradients were calculated as well. The confidence level was set at 95%. An univariate analysis was employed, as well as an ANOVA followed by a Fisher's test; Pearson's correlation was applied. Results: in the echocardiographic evaluation, statistically significant differences were observed between stages B1, B2 and C for the variables LA/AO, FS, and mitral gradient. There was a direct correlation between FS and mitral gradient (r= 0.66), LA/AO and mitral gradient (r= 0.70), and LA/AO and FS, (r= 0.75). An inverse correlation was found between systolic arterial pressure and FS (r= 0.51). Conclusions: patients with EDVM on stage C tended to have lower values tension; therefore, clinical evaluation with repeated blood pressure measurements in the same patient can help in decision-making and classification of the disease process. Among echocardiographic variables, the FS and LA/AO ratio were directly related to the clinical stage of the DMVD

Keywords : cardiomyopathy; echocardiography; high definition oscillometry; remodelative changes; arterial pressure.

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