Open AccessSystemic Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction in Dogs with Congestive Heart Failure
Author(s) -
Cunningham S.M.,
Rush J.E.,
Freeman L.M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00923.x
Subject(s) - medicine , heart failure , cardiology , reactive hyperemia , endothelial dysfunction , brachial artery , dilated cardiomyopathy , blood sampling , doppler echocardiography , blood flow , blood pressure , diastole
Background Congestive heart failure ( CHF ) is associated with endothelial dysfunction in people and in dogs with experimentally induced CHF , but this is not well characterized in dogs with naturally occurring CHF . Hypothesis/Objectives To evaluate endothelial function via assessment of reactive hyperemia ( RH ) in healthy dogs and dogs with CHF , and to assess for relationships with plasma biomarkers of vascular function and clinical markers of disease severity. Animals Twenty client‐owned animals with CHF due to myxomatous mitral valve disease (n = 15) or dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 5) and 17 healthy control dogs. Methods Prospective case‐controlled observational study. Dogs underwent blood sampling, echocardiography, and Doppler assessment of brachial artery velocity ( VTI ) at baseline and during reactive hyperemia ( RH ‐ VTI ). RH ‐ VTI s between control dogs and dogs with CHF were compared, and the relationships between RH ‐ VTI , clinical parameters, and plasma biomarkers were assessed. Results Dogs with CHF (96.5 ± 51.7%) had an attenuated % increase in VTI during RH compared to healthy controls (134.8 ± 58.7%; P = .04). Increasing ISACHC class ( R 2 = 0.24; P = .004), plasma NT ‐pro BNP ( R 2 = 0.15; P = .03) and CRP ( R 2 = 0.2; P = .02) were associated with reduced RH ‐ VTI . Increased plasma CRP , NO x , and NT ‐pro BNP concentrations were found in dogs with CHF ( P < .02 for all). No differences were detected in other plasma markers. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Dogs with CHF have an attenuated RH response, and increased plasma CRP and NO x concentrations. Doppler assessment of RH velocity could represent a novel noninvasive method of evaluating endothelial function in the dog.