Diagnostic and prognostic value of endothelin-1 plasma concentrations in dogs with heart and respiratory disorders

• Published in: Veterinary record Vol. 158; no. 23; pp. 783 - 788
• Main Authors: Tessier-Vetzel, D., Tissier, R., Chetboul, V., Carlos, C., Nicolle, A., Benbaron, D., Dandrieux, J., Thoulon, F., Carayon, A., Pouchelon, J.-L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Limited 10.06.2006; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Case-Control Studies; disease diagnosis; Dog Diseases - blood; Dog Diseases - diagnosis; Dog Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Dogs; Echocardiography - veterinary; Endothelin-1 - blood; Female; heart diseases; Heart Failure - diagnosis; Heart Failure - veterinary; hematologic tests; Male; Predictive Value of Tests; Radiography, Thoracic - veterinary; Radioimmunoassay - veterinary; respiratory tract diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases - diagnosis; Respiratory Tract Diseases - veterinary; ROC Curve
• ISSN: 0042-4900; 2042-7670
• DOI: 10.1136/vr.158.23.783

The endothelin-1 (ET-1) plasma concentration was measured in dogs with spontaneous cardiac or respiratory diseases. Plasma samples were obtained from 76 healthy control dogs and 73 dogs, of which 58 were suffering from heart disease and 15 were suffering from respiratory disease. Dogs were evaluated using echocardiography, thoracic radiography, biochemical evaluation and a radioimmunoassay for ET-1. ET-1 plasma concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with spontaneous cardiac or respiratory diseases (mean [se] 5·3 [0·3] and 5·3 [0·6] pg/ml, respectively) than in healthy dogs (1·9 [0·1] pg/ml) (P<0·0001). ET-1 plasma concentrations increased with the class of heart failure (International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council classification) (P<0·0001) and with the severity of pulmonary disorders. ET-1 plasma concentrations were positively correlated with the extent of systolic pulmonary hypertension measured by Doppler echocardiography (P<0·05; r=0·75) and with the clinical outcome of dogs with respiratory disease. Evaluation of the ET-1 plasma concentration allowed differentiation between heart and respiratory disorders in dogs exhibiting clinical signs at exercise, but not in patients exhibiting clinical signs at rest.