Use of echocardiography in the diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy in Irish wolfhounds. |
| |
Authors: | A C Vollmar |
| |
Affiliation: | Small Animal Veterinary Hospital of Wissen, Germany. |
| |
Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to compare the echocardiographic features of Irish wolfhounds with clinically inapparent dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) (n = 33) to dogs with advanced DCM (n = 33) and to normal dogs (n = 262). Significant differences were detected between the three groups. In dogs with DCM, the most sensitive diagnostic measurements were: end-systolic volume index (ESVI), E-point to septal separation (EPSS), fractional shortening (FS), and left ventricular internal dimensions (LVIDd and LVIDs). Left atrial diameter was increased markedly in dogs with DCM and 83.3% of affected Irish wolfhounds had concurrent atrial fibrillation. Compared with early DCM, in advanced DCM there was a significant increase in end-diastolic right ventricular diameter, often combined with extensive pleural effusion, the leading sign of congestive heart failure in Irish wolfhounds. |
| |
Keywords: | |
|
|