Influência do tratamento nos índices ecodopplercardiográficos de pressões de enchimento em cães com degeneração mixomatosa valvar mitral

Abstract

Echocardiography is considered the non-invasive diagnostic method of choice for early detection of mitral valve lesions, assessment of the severity of mitral regurgitation, determination of myocardial function, and estimation of left ventricular filling pressure. The noninvasive estimation of ventricular filling pressures, through echocardiographic examination, allows the early diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs with mitral valve myxomatous degeneration (VMMD). Although several clinical studies in dogs with VMD have considered the diagnostic utility of Doppler echocardiographic indices for identification, staging and prognosis of heart disease, as well as prediction of the first CHF event, it is unknown whether these variables can be used to guide therapeutic decisions, monitor, or quantify the risk of CHF recurrence in dogs with VMD. Thus, the objective is to determine whether Doppler echocardiographic indices can be used to monitor therapy, as well as predict the recurrence of congestive heart failure in dogs with VMD. Therefore, a prospective longitudinal clinical study will be carried out, with echodopplercardiographic exams being performed in 6 patients with VMV and CHF. The exams will be performed at the time of admission (first CHF event), seven days after CHF control. The hypothesis of this study is that Doppler echocardiographic indices, which represent ventricular filling pressure, can be used to monitor and guide therapeutic approaches.