Usefulness of pulsed-wave tissue Doppler imaging at the mitral annulus for prediction of new-onset atrial fibrillation in dogs

Echocardiographic predictors of first onset of atrial fibrillation in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease

“…37 In particular, the time between the onset of the P wave on the ECG and the peak of the last diastolic wave recorded on the mitral annulus differed between dogs that developed AF in the following months and those that did not. 37 This variable is an indicator of atrial electromechanical delay, but does not directly reflect the systolic properties of the chamber. 34 Left atrial tissue Doppler imaging, however, is an angle-dependent technique that suffers from several limitations and has limited clinical use in veterinary medicine.…”

“…Both methods have been used in dogs, and the latter shows better reproducibility and clinical relevance 14,15 . In a recent study performed on dogs with different types of cardiac disease, tissue Doppler appeared to be useful in predicting the future onset of AF 37 . In particular, the time between the onset of the P wave on the ECG and the peak of the last diastolic wave recorded on the mitral annulus differed between dogs that developed AF in the following months and those that did not 37 .…”

“…In a recent study performed on dogs with different types of cardiac disease, tissue Doppler appeared to be useful in predicting the future onset of AF 37 . In particular, the time between the onset of the P wave on the ECG and the peak of the last diastolic wave recorded on the mitral annulus differed between dogs that developed AF in the following months and those that did not 37 . This variable is an indicator of atrial electromechanical delay, but does not directly reflect the systolic properties of the chamber 34 .…”

Prevalence and prognostic role of L wave and selected clinical and echocardiographic variables in dogs with atrial fibrillation

“…Similarly, advanced echocardiographic techniques, namely tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking echocardiography, were not employed in the dogs of our study. These echocardiographic modalities have been used to evaluate the LA function in dogs with MMVD associated with sinus rhythm 61,63‐65 and in dogs with tachyarrhythmias, 66 and have been shown to be useful in predicting the onset of AF in this species 12,67 . In humans, LA analysis by tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking echocardiography has important prognostic relevance in patients with AF 68,69 .…”

“…These echocardiographic modalities have been used to evaluate the LA function in dogs with MMVD associated with sinus rhythm 61 , 63 , 64 , 65 and in dogs with tachyarrhythmias, 66 and have been shown to be useful in predicting the onset of AF in this species. 12 , 67 In humans, LA analysis by tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking echocardiography has important prognostic relevance in patients with AF. 68 , 69 Although the prognostic role of these techniques remains to be established in dogs with AF, it cannot be excluded that the use of these modalities in our study could have expanded the list of prognostic factors.…”