Taurine-Deficient Dilated Cardiomyopathy in a Family of Golden Retrievers

2005 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 284-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie C. Bélanger ◽  
Mathieu Ouellet ◽  
Guillaume Queney ◽  
Maxim Moreau

A reversible taurine-deficient dilated cardiomyopathy occurred in five related golden retrievers. An apical systolic heart murmur was the most common physical abnormality. According to fractional shortening and end-systolic diameter on echocardiography, significant improvements (P<0.005) were recorded within 3 to 6 months of starting taurine supplementation. The dogs regained substantial systolic function, and four were weaned off all cardiac medications except taurine. This response to therapy was unusual, because canine dilated cardiomyopathy is generally progressive and fatal.

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengjie Gao ◽  
Yajie Gao ◽  
Jingyu Hang ◽  
Meng Wei ◽  
Jingbo Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background A considerable number of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NDCM) patients had been found to have normalized left ventricular (LV) size and systolic function with tailored medical treatments. Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate if strain parameters assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking (FT) analysis could predict the NDCM recovery. Methods 79 newly diagnosed NDCM patients who underwent baseline and follow-up CMR scans were enrolled. Recovery was defined as a current normalized LV size and systolic function evaluated by CMR. Results Among 79 patients, 21 (27%) were confirmed recovered at a median follow-up of 36 months. Recovered patients presented with faster heart rates (HR) and larger body surface area (BSA) at baseline (P < 0.05). Compared to unrecovered patients, recovered pateints had a higher LV apical radial strain divided by basal radial strain (RSapi/bas) and a lower standard deviation of time to peak radial strain in 16 segments of the LV (SD16-TTPRS). According to a multivariate logistic regression model, RSapi/bas (P = 0.035) and SD16-TTPRS (P = 0.012) resulted as significant predictors for differentiation of recovered from unrecovered patients. The sensitivity and specificity of RSapi/bas and SD16-TTPRS for predicting recovered conditions were 76%, 67%, and 91%, 59%, with the area under the curve of 0.75 and 0.76, respectively. Further, Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed that patients with RSapi/bas ≥ 0.95% and SD16-FTPRS ≤ 111 ms had the highest recovery rate (65%, P = 0.027). Conclusions RSapi/bas and CMR SD16-TTPRS may be used as non-invasive parameters for predicting LV recovery in NDCM. This finding may be beneficial for subsequent treatments and prognosis of NDCM patients. Registration number: ChiCTR-POC-17012586.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-236
Author(s):  
Alison White

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease of the myocardium characterized by changes in cardiac chamber dimension and initial deterioration in systolic function accompanied by eventual diastolic function impairment with possible progression to cardiac failure. Early identification of ventricular dysfunction and etiology is imperative for the subsequent effective treatment of the cardiomyopathy process. One common cause of DCM is an infection from a viral insult that results in inflammation and consequent damage to the myocardium. Viral myocarditis may present as an acute or chronic illness. The clinical presentation of myocarditis demonstrates nonspecific symptomology that is variable between individuals. Accurate diagnosis of viral myocarditis relies upon various diagnostic testing methods to ascertain the origin of the infectious agent and resultant alterations in cardiovascular function. One such diagnostic testing method used in the detection of the presence and severity of DCM associated with viral myocarditis is echocardiography. The following case presentation demonstrates a dilated cardiomyopathy due to an acute myocarditis from Coxsackie B enterovirus evaluated with echocardiography.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlin Abbott-Johnson ◽  
Kursten V. Pierce ◽  
Steve Roof ◽  
Carlos L. del Rio ◽  
Robert Hamlin

Background: Pimobendan provides a significant survival benefit in dogs with cardiac disease, including degenerative mitral valve disease and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Its positive inotropic effect is well-known, however, it has complex effects and the mechanisms behind the survival benefit are not fully characterized. Secondary hemodynamic effects may decrease mitral regurgitation (MR) in DCM, and the benefits of pimobendan may extend to improved cardiac relaxation and improved atrial function.Hypothesis/Objectives: Our objective was to investigate the acute cardiac effects of pimobendan in dogs with a DCM phenotype. We hypothesized that pimobendan would increase left atrial (LA) contractility, reduce mitral regurgitation, improve diastolic function, and lower circulating NT-ProBNP levels.Animals: Seven purpose-bred Beagles were studied from a research colony with tachycardia induced DCM phenotype.Methods: The effects of pimobendan were studied under a placebo-controlled single-blinded cross-over design. In short, dogs underwent baseline and 3 h post-dose examinations 7 days apart with echocardiography and a blood draw. Dogs were randomized to receive oral placebo or 0.25 mg/kg pimobendan after their baseline exam. Investigators were blinded to treatments until all measurements were compiled.Results: When treated with pimobendan, the dogs had significant increases in systolic function and decreases in MR, compared to when treated with placebo.There were no detectable differences in left atrial measures, including LA size, LA emptying fraction, LA functional index or mitral A wave velocity. Heart rate decreased significantly with pimobendan compared to placebo. There was also a decrease in isovolumetric relaxation time normalized to heart rate. NT-proBNP levels had a high degree of variability.Conclusions: Improved mitral regurgitation severity and improved lusitropic function may contribute to the reported survival benefit for dogs with cardiac disease administered pimobendan. Pimobendan did not overtly improve LA function as assessed by echocardiography, and NT-proBNP was not significantly changed with a single dose of this medication. Further studies are needed to better characterize LA effects with other imaging modalities, to better quantify the total improvement of MR severity, and to assess chronic use of pimobendan on diastolic function in DCM.


Circulation ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 100 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Collinson ◽  
Michael Henein ◽  
Marcus Flather ◽  
John R. Pepper ◽  
Derek G. Gibson

Background —Long-standing aortic stenosis causes significant left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, which may progress irreversibly. In many cases, LV function can be salvaged by aortic valve surgery, although debate exists regarding the best valve prosthesis to use. Methods and Results —We studied 33 patients retrospectively who had significant aortic stenosis and impaired LV systolic function, as assessed by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. Patients were assessed preoperatively and before discharge from the hospital. A total of 20 patients received a stentless (homograft or Toronto) valve, and 13, a stented valve. No patient had significant aortic regurgitation or other valvular disease. Preoperatively, fractional shortening was 18.8±5.5% in the stentless group and 18.6±3.8% in the stented group. Postoperatively, it was 25.6±6.9% ( P <0.001 compared with baseline) and 17.0±2.8%, respectively ( P <0.001 compared with stentless group). Fractional shortening improved because of a reduction in LV end-systolic and end-diastolic dimensions in the stentless group. Systolic long axis function at the LV free wall also recovered, with an increase in systolic excursion and both peak shortening and lengthening rates. No change was noted in mitral valve Doppler patterns. Conclusions —Patients who received a stentless valve demonstrated a significantly greater early improvement in LV systolic function compared with those who received a stented valve.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document