Echocardiographic assessment of right heart size and function in dogs with pulmonary valve stenosis.
INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES
We sought to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of right heart remodeling and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in dogs with pulmonary valve stenosis (PS). We also sought to evaluate repeatability of several measurements of severity of PS, right heart size, and RV function in dogs with PS.


ANIMALS, MATERIALS AND METHODS
Several indices of right atrial (RA) size and RV size and function were prospectively evaluated in 48 dogs with PS. Regression analysis was used to determine if indices of right heart size and function were independently associated with maximum transpulmonary pressure gradient (max PG) and adverse clinical findings (exercise intolerance, syncope, or right heart failure). Eight dogs underwent a second echocardiogram performed by the same operator to assess repeatability of the echocardiographic indices, which was quantified by coefficient of variation (CV) and repeatability coefficient.


RESULTS
Increased RA size (81%), increased RV wall thickness (83%), and decreased tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE [81%]) were common. Right atrial size, end-diastolic RV area, and RV wall thickness were independently associated with max PG. Decreased TAPSE was independently associated with adverse clinical findings. All indices except RA area (18.6%) and RV systolic velocity (20.7%) had CVs <15%. Repeatability coefficients are available to help distinguish a true change versus measurement variability during serially obtained exams.


CONCLUSIONS
Right heart remodeling and RV dysfunction are common in dogs with PS and are associated with echocardiographic and clinical severity. Results support the quantitative assessment of right heart size and function in dogs with PS.
['Visser|L C|LC|', 'Nishimura|S|S|', 'Oldach|M S|MS|', 'Bélanger|C|C|', 'Gunther-Harrington|C T|CT|', 'Stern|J A|JA|', 'Hsue|W|W|']
D000818:Animals D004283:Dog Diseases D004285:Dogs D004452:Echocardiography D005260:Female D006325:Heart Atria D006352:Heart Ventricles D008297:Male D011666:Pulmonary Valve Stenosis D014261:Tricuspid Valve D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right
Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion Canine Pulmonic stenosis Right ventricular function