2015 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

In this study, dogs consisted of 20 healthy dogs and 31 dogs with MMVD. The classification of MMVD dogs used in the study was in the basis of the ISACH scale; class I (n = 10), class II (n = 11), class IIIa (n = 6), and class IIIb (n = 4). 2D, Mmode echocardiography, and Doppler examinations were performed in all dogs with unsedated state for conventional echocardiography. 2D color TDI examinations were conducted in shortaxis view for radial and circumferential motion, and in longitudinal view for IVS and LV motion. Radial strain and strain rate seemed decreased with severity. Longitudinal motions showed systolic and diastolic TDI and strain variables increased to moderate stage (class II or IIIa) and decreased in severe stage. Intra-ventricular dyssynchrony, measured as difference in time-to-peak between LV and IVS, was observed in MMVD dogs with high prevalence. Dyssynchrony among segments in each wall was also revealed in MMVD dogs. Left atrial to aortic ratio was positively correlated to mitral E wave to peak early diastolic velocity in the LV basal segment (E/Em), and fractional shortening (FS) and ejection fraction (EF) was positively correlated to radial strain. Mitral E wave velocity was negatively correlated to LV systolic time-to-peak and strain time-to-peak. Circumferential variables had no significant correlations to conventional echocardiographic variables. Coccygeal arterial blood pressure measurement is better tolerated than radial arterial measurement in cats, but discordant results are common. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of age, body condition score (BCS), and muscle condition score (MCS) on radial and coccygeal blood pressure measurements.