ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF PRE AND POST CAPILLARY PULMONARY HYPERTENSION IN DOGS

The present study is to assess right heart indices in dogs with elevated pulmonary arterial pressure associated with chronic mitral valve degenerative disease and chronic respiratory disorders The study was conducted in 10 clinical cases of Spitz breed with Chronic Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease (CDMD), 10 clinical cases of Spitz breed with Chronic Respiratory Disorders (CRD) and 10 normal Spitz as control. The right heart indices were assessed by echocardiography. The data collected were statistically analysed and interpreted. A significant increase in MPA/Ao, TAPSE/Ao and RVd/LVd were observed in dogs with CDMD and CRD compared to normal dogs. In Doppler derived indices there was a highly significant increase in tricuspid regurgitant velocity in dogs with CRD and CDMD compared to normal dogs. It is concluded that Doppler derived indices more specifically tricuspid regurgitation velocity is a reliable indicator of pulmonary hypertension and the right heart indices can used to identify right ventricular remodelling due to pre capillary and post capillary pulmonary hypertension.