2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

These results suggest certain echocardiographic techniques available for CO measurement are comparable to invasively measured CO. Specifically, 2D MOD using the right long axis and left apical 4-chamber views, or RT3DE from the right long axis view, had excellent agreement with TD. The excellent correlation between methods indicates a close relationship between select techniques, although they are not interchangeable. CO is underestimated by the noninvasive techniques studied here compared to TD. The differences between TD and noninvasive measures may be due to errors of the method, patient stroke volume variability, heart rate fluctuation, or inaccuracies of TD. One of the major limitations of this study is the small number of patients, which allows preliminary conclusions only. A larger prospective study is needed to delineate the benefits and constraints of these methods. Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common heart disease in the dog. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are frequently recommended for management of dogs with MMVD and asymptomatic cardiac enlargement. However, the benefit of ACE inhibition in dogs before the onset of congestive heart failure (CHF) is controversial, with different studies showing conflicting results. A variable response to ACE inhibitor therapy has also been observed in human beings with heart disease and in some cases this has been attributed to a polymorphism in the ACE gene. We have previously demonstrated a polymorphism in the canine ACE gene, although the clinical significance of this finding is unknown.