Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) is a pathologic condition in dogs characterized by abnormally high pressures in the pulmonary circulation and has been associated with a poor outcome. Sildenafil is a type V phosphodiesterase inhibitor that produces nitric oxide mediated vasodilatation. Sildenafil treatment decreases pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance in people with PH. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of dogs with PH treated with sildenafil. The cardiology database was searched for dogs with PH treated with sildenafil. PH was defined as systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPs) > or = 25 mmHg at rest. Medical records were reviewed for the following information: signalment, duration and type of clinical signs before treatment, underlying disease, estimated or measured PAPs, dosage and dosing interval of sildenafil, and the effect of treatment on clinical signs and pulmonary arterial pressure and survival time. Thirteen affected dogs were identified. Clinical signs included collapse, syncope, respiratory distress, and cough. Duration of clinical signs before presentation ranged from 3 days to 5 months. An underlying cause was identified in 8 dogs. The median sildenafil dosage was 1.9 mg/kg. Ten dogs received concurrent medications. Median PAPs was 90 mmHg; 8 dogs were reevaluated after therapy, and the median decrease in PAPs was 16.5 mmHg. The median survival time of all dogs was 91 days. Sildenafil appeared to be well tolerated in dogs with PH and was associated with decreased PAPs and amelioration of clinical signs in most. Sildenafil represents a reasonable treatment option for dogs with pulmonary hypertension.

A novel method for quantitative echocardiographic interpretations is introduced based on the calculation of ratio indices in which each raw M-mode measurement is divided by the aortic root dimension (Ao). ''Aorta-based'' indices were calculated with the animal's measured aortic root dimension (Ao m ) as the length standard. Conversely, ''weight-based'' indices employed an idealized estimate of aortic dimension (Ao w ) with a weighted least squares linear regression against the cube root of body weight (Ao w ϭ kW 1/3 ). Use of these indices circumvented undesirable statistical characteristics inherent in linear regression of echocardiographic dimensions against body weight and, to a lesser extent, body surface area. Compared with the regressions, ratio indices resulted in substantial refinement of the predictive range for each M-mode measurement in dogs, particularly with decreasing body size. Weight-based indices outperformed aorta-based indices in this regard. To refine the predictive range, neither type of index was clearly advantageous in cats compared with the simple average method typically employed for that species. Several of the raw Mmode measurements, however, were correlated with body weight in cats and horses, indicating the need for an appropriate correction for body size in these species. The ratio index method was suitable for this purpose. Summary statistics derived from normal dogs (n ϭ 53), cats (n ϭ 32), and horses (n ϭ 17) are presented for each index, including novel clinical indices calculated from area ratios. The latter were designed to represent body size-adjusted left ventricular stroke area (ie, volume overload) and myocardial wall area (ie, hypertrophy).Key words: Cardiac; Echocardiography; Heart. E chocardiographic studies have become routine for the diagnosis and evaluation of heart disease in veterinary medicine. Two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) is used to visualize complex anatomic relationships, and Mmode echocardiography is used predominantly for quantification of cardiac dimensions. Increasingly, 2DE also is used for quantification. [1][2][3][4][5] Numerous quantitative evaluations of M-mode echocardiographic and 2DE recordings have been published. Echocardiographic interpretations by cardiologists, however, often are accomplished by visual inspection of the 2DE in real time and not necessarily by reference to published normal dimensions. This implies that these interpretations are the result of comparisons between structures visible on the 2DE in conjunction with extensive experience and knowledge of cardiac pathophysiology. An experienced echocardiographer is distinguished by a practiced eye and intimate familiarity with these relationships.Quantitative echocardiographic measurements still are required to establish whether cardiac dimensions are appropriate for the size of an individual. Published regressions of M-mode dimensions against body mass, however, might not agree with the visual interpretation of the cardiologist. Confidence intervals of these regressions ar...

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) is a pathologic condition in dogs characterized by abnormally high pressures in the pulmonary circulation and has been associated with a poor outcome. Sildenafil is a type V phosphodiesterase inhibitor that produces nitric oxide mediated vasodilatation. Sildenafil treatment decreases pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance in people with PH. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of dogs with PH treated with sildenafil. The cardiology database was searched for dogs with PH treated with sildenafil. PH was defined as systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPs) > or = 25 mmHg at rest. Medical records were reviewed for the following information: signalment, duration and type of clinical signs before treatment, underlying disease, estimated or measured PAPs, dosage and dosing interval of sildenafil, and the effect of treatment on clinical signs and pulmonary arterial pressure and survival time. Thirteen affected dogs were identified. Clinical signs included collapse, syncope, respiratory distress, and cough. Duration of clinical signs before presentation ranged from 3 days to 5 months. An underlying cause was identified in 8 dogs. The median sildenafil dosage was 1.9 mg/kg. Ten dogs received concurrent medications. Median PAPs was 90 mmHg; 8 dogs were reevaluated after therapy, and the median decrease in PAPs was 16.5 mmHg. The median survival time of all dogs was 91 days. Sildenafil appeared to be well tolerated in dogs with PH and was associated with decreased PAPs and amelioration of clinical signs in most. Sildenafil represents a reasonable treatment option for dogs with pulmonary hypertension.

Cardiac lymphoma is an uncommon cause of pericardial effusion, and results suggest that cardiac lymphoma does not always warrant the poor prognosis of other stage V, substage b lymphomas.

Results suggested that the CATCH questionnaire is a valid and reliable method for assessing health-related quality of life in cats with cardiac disease. Further research is warranted to test the tool's sensitivity to changes in medical treatment and its potential role as a clinical and research tool.