Myocardial injury in dogs: a retrospective analysis on etiological, echocardiographic, electrocardiographic, therapeutic, and outcome findings in 102 cases

Abstract

Introduction/ObjectiveIn dogs, myocardial injury (MI) is a poorly characterized clinical entity; therefore, this study aimed to provide a detailed description of dogs affected by this condition. Animals, Materials, and MethodsDogs diagnosed with MI according to the concentration of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were retrospectively searched. Signalment, diagnostic, therapeutic, and outcome data were retrieved. Dogs were divided in six echocardiographic (dilated cardiomyopathy phenotype; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotype; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotype with systolic dysfunction; abnormal echogenicity only; endocarditis; and no echocardiographic abnormalities suggestive of MI), four electrocardiographic (abnormalities of impulse formation; abnormalities of impulse conduction; abnormalities of ventricular repolarization; and no electrocardiographic abnormalities suggestive of MI), and nine etiological (infective; inflammatory; neoplastic; metabolic; toxic; nutritional; immune-mediated; traumatic/mechanical; and unknown) categories. Statistical analysis was performed to compare cTnI values among different categories and analyze survival. ResultsOne hundred and two dogs were included. The median cTnI value was 3.71 ng/mL (0.2–180 ng/mL). Echocardiographic and electrocardiographic abnormalities were documented in 86/102 and 89/102 dogs, respectively. Among echocardiographic and electrocardiographic categories, the dilated cardiomyopathy phenotype (n=52) and abnormalities of impulse formation (n=67) were overrepresented, respectively. Among dogs in which a suspected etiological trigger was identified (68/102), the infective category was overrepresented (n=20). Among dogs belonging to different echocardiographic, electrocardiographic and etiological categories, cTnI did not differ significantly. The median survival time was 603 days; only 8/102 dogs died due to MI. ConclusionsDogs with MI often have an identifiable suspected trigger, show various echocardiographic and electrocardiographic abnormalities, and frequently survive to MI-related complications.