Association of Plasma N‐Terminal Pro‐B‐Type Natriuretic Peptide Concentration with Mitral Regurgitation Severity and Outcome in Dogs with Asymptomatic Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease

Background: The clinical outcome of dogs affected by degenerative mitral valve disease (MVD) without overt clinical signs is still poorly defined, and criteria for identification of animals that are at a higher risk of early decompensation have not yet been determined. Hypothesis: N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide plasma concentration (NT‐proBNP) is correlated with mitral regurgitation (MR) severity and can predict disease progression in dogs with asymptomatic MVD. Animals: Seventy‐two dogs with asymptomatic MVD, with or without heart enlargement (International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council: ISACHC classes 1a and 1b), and a control group of 22 dogs were prospectively recruited. Methods: Severity of MR was quantitatively assessed from the regurgitation fraction (RF) by the proximal isovelocity surface area method. Consequences of MR were evaluated from measurements of the left atrium/aorta ratio (LA/Ao), fractional shortening (FS), end‐diastolic and end‐systolic left ventricular volumes indexed to body surface area (EDVI and ESVI). The relevance of these echo‐Doppler indices and NT‐proBNP for prediction of outcome at 12 months was studied. Results: A significant correlation was found between NT‐proBNP and RF, LA/Ao, FS, and EDVI ( P < .05). NT‐proBNP was higher in dogs with MVD (ISACHC classes 1a and 1b) compared with the control group ( P = .025 and < .001, respectively). The difference was not significant when only dogs from ISACHC class 1a with RF < 30% were considered. Lastly, NT‐proBNP was higher in dogs that underwent MVD decompensation at 12 months ( P < .05). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: NT‐proBNP is correlated with MVD severity and prognosis in dogs with asymptomatic MVD.