Usefulness of NT-proBNP in dogs with heartworm: could this biomarker be useful to evaluate pulmonary hypertension?

Parasites & Vectors

Research

Noelia Costa-Rodríguez¹  Elena Carretón¹  José A. Montoya-Alonso¹  Yaiza Falcón-Cordón¹  Jorge I. Matos¹  Sara N. García-Rodríguez¹  Rodrigo Morchón² 

[1] Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain;Zoonotic Diseases and One Health Group, Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain;

关键词: Natriuretic peptides;    NT-proBNP;    Pulmonary hypertension;    Biomarker;    Heartworm;    Dirofilaria immitis;    Dogs;    Animal diseases;    Endarteritis;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13071-023-05873-3

 received in 2023-02-01, accepted in 2023-07-06,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn recent years, the usefulness of echocardiography and serum biomarkers in the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in dogs with heartworm disease has been studied. Previously, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has shown high concentrations in dogs with heart disease and/or PH as well as its usefulness as a prognostic indicator, but it has never been evaluated in the diagnosis and prognosis of PH in dogs with heartworm disease. The aim was to evaluate the serum concentrations of NT-proBNP in dogs infected by Dirofilaria immitis to determine its usefulness as a tool to detect precapillary PH.MethodsNT-proBNP was determined in 50 heartworm-infected dogs. Presence/absence of PH was determined echocardiographically, using the Right Pulmonary Artery Distensibility Index (RPAD Index) and the systolic flow of tricuspid regurgitation mainly, together with other echocardiographic measurements following the guidelines of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) for the diagnosis of PH. Other epidemiological parameters (breed, age, sex, status: client-owned or shelter dogs) and clinical parameters (microfilaremia, parasite burden, presence of symptoms, body condition) were collected as well.ResultsModerate-severe PH was present in 40% of the dogs (RPAD Index < 29.5%), NT-proBNP concentrations being significantly higher compared with dogs that did not have PH. A cutoff for NT-proBNP of ≥ 1178.45 pmol/l showed a sensitivity of 64.3% and a specificity of 95.5% for the presence of moderate-severe PH. Older dogs and dogs from shelters showed significantly higher NT-proBNP concentrations. Dogs with symptoms and low body condition presented significantly higher NT-proBNP concentrations as well.ConclusionsThe determination of NT-pro-BNP concentration can be a useful tool in the diagnostic work-up of dogs with heartworm disease and associated PH and can help to identify animals in the more advanced stage of this disorder.Graphical abstract

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 15