Open AccessEchocardiographic evaluation of the right ventricular dimension and systolic function in dogs with pulmonary hypertension
Author(s) -
Vezzosi Tommaso,
Domenech Oriol,
Costa Giulia,
Marchesotti Federica,
Venco Luigi,
Zini Eric,
del Palacio Maria Josefa Fernández,
Tognetti Rosalba
Publication year - 2018
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/jvim.15253
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , pulmonary hypertension , body surface area , heart failure , regurgitation (circulation) , diastole , ventricular function , blood pressure
Background Right ventricular (RV) enlargement and dysfunction are associated with prognosis in humans with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Hypothesis/Objectives To assess RV size and systolic function in dogs with PH and to determine if they are associated with disease severity and right‐sided congestive heart failure (R‐CHF). Animals 89 dogs with PH and 74 healthy dogs. Methods Prospective observational study. PH was classified according to the tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient. RV end‐diastolic area (RVEDA) index was calculated as RVEDA divided by body surface area. RV systolic function was assessed with the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and the RV fractional area change (FAC) normalized for body weight (TAPSEn and FACn, respectively). Results RVEDA index was higher in dogs with moderate PH (10.8 cm 2 /m 2 ; range, 6.2‐14.4 cm 2 /m 2 ) and severe PH (12.4 cm 2 /m 2 ; range, 7.7‐21.4 cm 2 /m 2 ) than in those with mild PH (8.4 cm 2 /m 2 ; range, 4.8‐11.6 cm 2 /m 2 ) and control dogs (8.5 cm 2 /m 2 ; range, 2.8‐11.6 cm 2 /m 2 ; P < .001). RVEDA index was significantly higher in dogs with R‐CHF (13.7 cm 2 /m 2 ; range, 11.0‐21.4 cm 2 /m 2 ) than in dogs without R‐CHF (9.4 cm 2 /m 2 ; range, 4.8‐17.1 cm 2 /m 2 ; P < .001). The severity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) was the only independent predictor of the RVEDA index ( P < .001). TAPSEn and FACn were not significantly different among varying degrees of PH severity and between dogs with and without R‐CHF. Conclusions and Clinical Importance The RVEDA index can be used to evaluate RV size in dogs. It can provide additional information in dogs with PH and predict R‐CHF. Severity of TR is the main determinant of RV enlargement in dogs with PH.