Plasma N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide concentration in healthy retired racing Greyhounds

Background: Increased plasma concentration of N-terminal-prohormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) can be detected in cats with cardiac disease. Potential effects of feline characteristics on NT-proBNP concentration may influence clinical usefulness. Objectives: To evaluate potential effects of feline characteristics on NT-proBNP plasma concentration and to compare NT-proBNP plasma concentrations in healthy cats with results in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) cats with or without left atrial enlargement (LAE) using an ELISA and a point-of-care test (POCT), and assess if POCT results reflect ELISA results. Animals: One hundred healthy cats of 3 breeds and 39 HCM cats were included.Methods: Diseases other than HCM were excluded by physical examination, blood pressure measurement, echocardiography, hematology, and serum biochemistry.Results: Higher NT-proBNP concentrations were found in males than in females in healthy (P = .005) and in HCM cats (P = .0021), but breed had no effect on NT-proBNP concentrations. Using ≥100 pmol/L as a cutoff for abnormal samples, ELISA and POCT had similar sensitivity (SE; 72 and 74%) and specificity (SP; 97 and 98%) for detecting cats with HCM, cats with HCM and LAE (SE, both 100%; SP, 97 versus 98%), and cats with HCM without LAE (SE, both 69%; SP, 97 versus 98%), respectively, when compared to healthy cats. Conclusions and Clinical Importance:Breed had no effect on plasma NT-proBNP concentrations, but higher concentrations were found in male than in female cats.Abbreviations: 2D, 2-dimension; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; Ao, aorta; BCS, body condition score; BNP, B-type natriuretic peptide; BW, body weight; CHF, congestive heart failure; CV, coefficient of variation; DSH, Domestic Shorthair; FS, fractional shortening; HCM, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; HDO, high-definition oscillometric device; HR, heart rate auscultation; IQR, interquartile range; IVSd, interventricular septum diastole; IVSd inc% , percentage increase interventricular septal diameter in end diastole; LA, left atrium; LA/Ao, left atrial-to-aortic root diameter ratio; LV, left ventricle; LVFWd, left ventricular free wall diameter in end diastole; LVFWdinc%, percentage increase of left ventricular free wall diameter in end diastole; LVIDd, left ventricular internal diameter in end diastole; LVIDdinc%, percentage increase of left ventricular internal diameter in end diastole; LVIDs, left ventricular internal diameter in systole; NF, Norwegian Forest; NP, natriuretic peptide; NT-proBNP, N-terminal-prohormone-B-type natriuretic peptide; proBNP, prohormone-BNP; POCT, point-of-care test; ROC, receiver operator characteristic curve; SAM, systolic anterior motion; SBP, systolic blood pressure; SE, sensitivity; SP, specificity; T4, thyroxine.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Effect of feline characteristics on plasma N‐terminal‐prohormone B‐type natriuretic peptide concentration and comparison of a point‐of‐care test and an ELISA test

Hanås

Holst

Höglund

et al. 2020

“…Several physiological and pathological factors can influence the reported concentrations of both NT‐proBNP and cTnI, potentially confounding the associations between the biomarkers and survival . Breed, sex, body weight, age, treatments, and comorbidities were evaluated both as explanatory variables and confounders in our study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prognostic factors in dogs with presumed degenerative mitral valve disease attending primary‐care veterinary practices in the United Kingdom

Mattin

Boswood

Church

et al. 2018

Background Prognostic risk factors were identified for dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) monitored by veterinary cardiologists. The value of these measurements has not been determined in the wider primary care setting. Objectives To evaluate whether plasma cardiac biomarkers and data obtained from routine history‐taking and physical examination are predictive of survival in dogs with DMVD attending primary care practice. Animals Eight‐hundred and ninety‐three dogs with a presumptive diagnosis of DMVD recruited from 79 primary care veterinary practices in the United Kingdom. Methods Prospective cohort study. Primary care veterinary practitioners recorded clinical data. Plasma N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were measured at presentation. Cox regression models evaluated associations between risk factor variables and hazard of death (all‐cause mortality and cardiac‐related death). Flexible parametric models generated predicted survival probabilities for dogs with different combinations of prognostic risk factor variable values. Results Dogs with higher NT‐proBNP and cTnI concentrations, higher heart rates, older dogs, females, and those reported to be exercise intolerant, dyspneic, and diagnosed with selected comorbidities had an increased hazard of death due to any cause. Dogs with higher concentrations of plasma biomarkers, higher heart rates, and heart murmur intensities, those with exercise intolerance and those receiving potent diuretics had a higher hazard of cardiac‐related death. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Cardiac biomarkers and key clinical findings identified in this study can help primary care veterinary practitioners identify dogs with DMVD that are at highest risk of death.

“…However, studies in retired racing greyhounds have found that plasma NT-proBNP concentrations in this breed at rest are significantly higher than non-Greyhound controls, with 11 of 24 healthy greyhounds having NT-proBNP concentrations above the upper limit of the reference range. 35 A similar situation might exist in Huntaways, and there might also be an influence of sex on plasma NT-proBNP concentrations at rest, although in humans, females tend to have higher concentrations than males. 36 The high before work NT-proBNP concentrations on Day 1 could also be related to the dogs' anticipation of imminent work after a fortnight of rest.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Because of the small sample size in the present study, it might be coincidental that the 2 dogs with elevated NT‐proBNP concentrations initially were both male Huntaways, whereas the 2 female Huntaways and the heading dogs had resting values within the reference range. However, studies in retired racing greyhounds have found that plasma NT‐proBNP concentrations in this breed at rest are significantly higher than non‐Greyhound controls, with 11 of 24 healthy greyhounds having NT‐proBNP concentrations above the upper limit of the reference range . A similar situation might exist in Huntaways, and there might also be an influence of sex on plasma NT‐proBNP concentrations at rest, although in humans, females tend to have higher concentrations than males .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Plasma NT‐proBNP and Cell‐Free DNA Concentrations after Prolonged Strenuous Exercise in Working Farm Dogs

Hunt

Cave

Bridges

et al. 2017

BackgroundPlasma N‐terminal pro–B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) concentration is increased in dogs with myocardial dysfunction, and cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) increases in numerous disease states. In humans, both of these biomarkers can be altered after endurance exercise.ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of prolonged strenuous exercise on circulating NT‐proBNP and cfDNA concentrations in working farm dogs.AnimalsSix healthy, privately owned working farm dogs (4 Huntaways and 2 heading dogs) from the same hill country farm in New Zealand.MethodsProspective, nonrandomised cohort study. Venous blood samples were collected before and after the dogs worked over 4 days. Plasma NT‐proBNP concentrations were measured by a commercially available ELISA assay and cfDNA concentrations were determined by fluorometry without prior DNA extraction.ResultsThe baseline (before work, Day 1) median plasma NT‐proBNP concentration was 664 pmol/L. A linear mixed‐effects model showed that work increased plasma NT‐proBNP concentrations by 101 ± 9% (P < 0.001), but with each consecutive day of work, NT‐proBNP concentrations declined by 16 ± 4% (P < 0.001). The baseline median plasma cfDNA concentration was 653 ng/mL, and plasma cfDNA concentrations increased by 138 ± 45 ng/mL after work (P = 0.004).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe plasma concentration of NT‐proBNP in healthy Huntaways and heading dogs after work can exceed the upper limit of the reference range. Results in dogs sampled on the day of prolonged strenuous exercise should be interpreted with caution. Plasma concentrations of cfDNA also increase with exercise, but further studies are needed to establish reference ranges in healthy dogs.