Abstract
The effects of cardiac disease on the intestine have been reported in humans but not in dogs. We investigated the effects of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), which is capable of causing congestion and tissue hypoperfusion, on the intestine in Chihuahuas, a breed frequently encountered in clinical practice as the preferred breed for MMVD. In this study, 69 Chihuahuas were divided into four groups based on echocardiography and chest radiography: 19 healthy Chihuahuas (H) and 50 Chihuahuas with MMVD classified according to the ACVIM consensus (stage B1, B2, C/D). In all the cases, serum intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) and D/L-lactate concentrations, markers of intestinal mucosal injury, were measured. I-FABP was significantly higher in stage C/D Chihuahuas than in other groups (p < 0.05), and stage B2 was significantly higher than H (p < 0.05). D-lactate was significantly increased in stages B2 and C/D compared to H and stage B1 (p < 0.05). L-lactate was significantly higher in stage C/D Chihuahuas than in any other group (p < 0.05), and stage B2 was significantly higher than that in H and stage B1 (p < 0.05). Intestinal mucosal injury risk was significantly higher in Chihuahuas with heart failure due to MMVD, suggesting that the risk could increase with worsening heart disease. This is the first study to investigate the intestinal complications of MMVD, and further investigations a needed in the future.
Highlights
The heart is a vital organ, and many associations between cardiovascular diseases and other organs, such as the liver [1] and kidney [2, 3], have been reported
We investigated the risk of intestinal mucosal injury using intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) and D/LLactate in healthy dogs and dogs with Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), limiting the study breed to clinically commonly encountered Chihuahuas
We found that serum I-FABP, D-lactate, and L-lactate levels were increased in Chihuahuas with heart failure attributed to MMVD, and there was a certain correlation between worsening heart disease and increased I-FABP, D-lactate, and L-lactate levels
Summary
The heart is a vital organ, and many associations between cardiovascular diseases and other organs, such as the liver [1] and kidney [2, 3], have been reported. Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common cause of congestive heart failure in small dogs and is characterized by progressive atrioventricular valve degeneration [13]. Prolonged heart failure can result in reduced blood flow in the body, causing ischemic damage to vital organs, such as the kidneys [14] and pancreas [15, 16]. While the association between cardiac disease and the intestine has been widely reported in human medicine, it has not yet been studied and is still unknown in veterinary medicine
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