Open AccessElectrocardiographic and echocardiographic evaluation in dogs with hypothyroidism before and after levothyroxine supplementation: A prospective controlled study
Author(s) -
Guglielmini Carlo,
Berlanda Michele,
Fracassi Federico,
Poser Helen,
Koren Shani,
Baron Toaldo Marco
Publication year - 2019
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.15600
Subject(s) - medicine , levothyroxine , prospective cohort study , cardiology , cardiac function curve , fractional shortening , heart failure , diastole , endocrinology , thyroid , blood pressure
Abstract Background Improvement in cardiac function has been demonstrated after thyroxine treatment in humans with hypothyroidism using the myocardial performance index (MPI). Cardiac changes after thyroxine supplementation are poorly documented in dogs with spontaneous hypothyroidism and comparison with clinically healthy dogs is lacking. Objectives To evaluate the electrical activity and mechanical function of the heart in dogs with primary hypothyroidism at baseline (T0) and after thyroxine supplementation (T60). Animals Forty client‐owned dogs with hypothyroidism and 20 clinically healthy dogs. Methods Prospective cohort study. Selected electrocardiographic and echocardiographic variables, including the MPI, were measured in all dogs at T0 and in 30 hypothyroid dogs at T60. Results Hypothyroid dogs had significantly decreased median or mean heart rate (HR), P wave amplitude, and R wave amplitude ( P = .04, P = .002, and P = .003, respectively) and E‐point‐to‐septal separation normalized to body weight (EPSSn) and trans‐mitral E wave velocity (E max; P < .001 and P = .025, respectively) at T0 compared to control dogs. At T60, significantly increased median or mean HR, P wave amplitude, fractional shortening, and E max ( P < .001, P = .004, P = .002, and P = .009, respectively) and significantly decreased left ventricular end‐diastolic volume index, and normalized systolic diameter and EPSSn ( P = .03, P = .03, and P = .001, respectively) were found. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Hypothyroidism in dogs induces mild and reversible changes of electromechanical cardiac function. The MPI does not have clinical importance in identifying cardiac dysfunction in affected dogs.