Left atrial volume and phasic function in clinically healthy dogs of 12 different breeds

TY - JOUR

T1 - Left atrial volume and phasic function in clinically healthy dogs of 12 different breeds

AU - Höllmer, Miriam

AU - Willesen, Jakob

AU - Tolver, Anders

AU - Koch, Jørgen

PY - 2013/9

Y1 - 2013/9

N2 - The left atrium (LA) of the heart is a validated marker of clinical and subclinical cardiovascular disease. Since the LA is a three-dimensional structure, volume-based methods of chamber quantification might be more accurate than linear methods. The aims of this study were to establish the feasibility and reproducibility of biplane two-dimensional echocardiographic LA volume measurements and to provide reference ranges for LA volume and phasic function in adult dogs ( n=. 237) without cardiovascular disease. The study also assessed the effects of bodyweight (BW), breed, sex, age and heart rate (HR) on LA volume and function. The biplane area-length method was used to calculate LA volumes from the left apical four- and two-chamber views.LA volume and function were correlated with body size and there were significant breed differences. For dogs of all sizes and breeds, LA maximal volume had a 95th percentile of 0.92. mL/kg. There was no correlation between age or sex and LA volume or LA reservoir function, but conduit function decreased and booster pump function increased with age. LA volume and function varied with HR. LA size was calculated using the biplane area-length method, with good reproducibility and little inter-observer variability. The reference ranges presented for LA volume and function in healthy dogs could be used to refine the diagnostic criteria for the assessment of LA enlargement and altered function by conventional echocardiography.

AB - The left atrium (LA) of the heart is a validated marker of clinical and subclinical cardiovascular disease. Since the LA is a three-dimensional structure, volume-based methods of chamber quantification might be more accurate than linear methods. The aims of this study were to establish the feasibility and reproducibility of biplane two-dimensional echocardiographic LA volume measurements and to provide reference ranges for LA volume and phasic function in adult dogs ( n=. 237) without cardiovascular disease. The study also assessed the effects of bodyweight (BW), breed, sex, age and heart rate (HR) on LA volume and function. The biplane area-length method was used to calculate LA volumes from the left apical four- and two-chamber views.LA volume and function were correlated with body size and there were significant breed differences. For dogs of all sizes and breeds, LA maximal volume had a 95th percentile of 0.92. mL/kg. There was no correlation between age or sex and LA volume or LA reservoir function, but conduit function decreased and booster pump function increased with age. LA volume and function varied with HR. LA size was calculated using the biplane area-length method, with good reproducibility and little inter-observer variability. The reference ranges presented for LA volume and function in healthy dogs could be used to refine the diagnostic criteria for the assessment of LA enlargement and altered function by conventional echocardiography.

U2 - 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.05.045

DO - 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.05.045

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1090-0233

VL - 197

SP - 639

EP - 645

JO - The Veterinary Journal

JF - The Veterinary Journal

IS - 3

ER -