RESUMO
N-terminal pro-b-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) is a cardiac biomarker used to detect myocardial wall stress. Physical activity and cardiac disease can affect serum NTproBNP concentrations. In people, different types of physical activity have different effects on NTproBNP. Our hypothesis was that physical activity and training have an effect on NTproBNP concentrations depending on the type of exercise and the intensity. Seven German Shepherd dogs (GSD) under military training performing short bursts of fast-paced interval exercise and seven Eurohounds (EHs) training for racing competition with endurance exercise were included in the study. Blood samples were taken at enrollment (T0) and after a two-month (T2mth) training period; on both occasions, the samples were acquired before and after physical exercise. An echocardiographic evaluation was performed at T0. Echocardiographic heart size was larger in the EHs compared to the GSDs. The NTproBNP concentration was higher in the EHs than in the GSDs before and after exercise at T0 and T2mth. Echocardiographic parameters of heart size and wall thickness correlated with NTproBNP at T0 before and after exercise. Exercise induced an elevation of NTproBNP in the EHs at T0 and T2mth, while in the GSDs this was observed only at T0. In the EHs, post exercise was associated with higher NTproBNP at T2mth compared to T0, while in the GSDs the opposite pattern was noticed. From our study, the serum NTproBNP concentration differs between breeds. Intense physical activity causes an increase in NTproBNP. A two-month training period does not affect the NTproBNP concentration at rest. Intense physical activity may increase NTproBNP above the reference range in individual dogs.
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Anterior mitral valve leaflet (AMVL) elongation is a recognised feature of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, whether AMVL elongation precedes left ventricular hypertrophy in cats is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the risk of developing an HCM phenotype in cats with an elongated AMVL. ANIMALS: FIFTY-FIVE APPARENTLY HEALTHY CATS WITH A NORMAL BASELINE ECHOCARDIOGRAM AND A FOLLOW-UP ECHOCARDIOGRAM AT >ONE YEAR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective longitudinal study. Cats at the baseline were grouped based on whether or not they developed an HCM phenotype at follow-up. AMVL length and left atrial and left ventricular dimensions were measured from two-dimensional images. RESULTS: The median follow-up period of the study population was 5.4 years (25th and 75th quartile, 2.7-6.7 years). During this time, 17 cats (30.9%) developed an HCM phenotype. At the baseline, cats that subsequently developed an HCM phenotype had greater AMVL length (9.4 mm [25th and 75th quartile, 9.0-10.6 mm] vs. 8.5 mm [25th and 75th quartile, 7.6-9.1 mm], P < 0.0001) and maximal left ventricular wall thickness (4.5 mm [25th and 75th quartile, 4.1-4.7 mm] vs. 4.0 mm [25th and 75th quartile, 3.7-4.6 mm], P = 0.007) than those that did not. Multiple logistic regression analysis confirmed that both baseline variables were independent predictors for development of an HCM phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: The AMVL length was greater in cats that subsequently developed left ventricular hypertrophy. Further studies investigating the clinical application of AMVL in the natural history of feline HCM are warranted.
