Morey AGN, Lamb KE, Karnia JJ, Wiggen KE, Lyons BM, Nafe LA, Leach SB. N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin-I, and point-of-care ultrasound in dogs with cardiac and noncardiac causes of nonhemorrhagic ascites.
J Vet Intern Med 2023;
37:900-909. [PMID:
37060291 DOI:
10.1111/jvim.16702]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Nonhemorrhagic ascites (NHA) can be caused by cardiac diseases (cNHA) and noncardiac diseases (ncNHA). N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cardiac troponin-I (cTnI), and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) may differentiate between cNHA and ncNHA.
HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES
We compared NT-proBNP and cTnI concentrations as well as POCUS findings in dogs presented with cNHA and ncNHA.
ANIMALS
Dogs (n = 60) were enrolled based on identification of NHA with an effusion packed cell volume < 10%.
METHODS
Blood samples were collected and POCUS was performed on all dogs. Dogs were diagnosed with cNHA (n = 28) or ncNHA (n = 32) based on echocardiography. The cNHA group was subdivided into cardiac non-pericardial disease (n = 17) and pericardial disease (n = 11).
RESULTS
The NT-proBNP concentration (median; range pmol/L) was significantly higher in the cNHA group (4510; 250-10 000) compared to the ncNHA group (739.5; 250-10 000; P = .01), with a sensitivity of 53.8% and specificity of 85.7% using a cut-off of 4092 pmol/L. The NT-proBNP concentrations were significantly higher in the cardiac non-pericardial disease group (8339; 282-10 000) compared with the pericardial disease group (692.5; 250-4928; P = .002). A significant difference in cTnI concentration (median; range ng/L) between the cNHA group (300; 23-112 612) and ncNHA group (181; 17-37 549) was not detected (P = .41). A significantly higher number of dogs had hepatic venous and caudal vena cava distension in the cNHA group compared to the ncNHA group, respectively (18/28 vs 3/29, P < .0001 and 13/27 vs 2/29, P < .001). Gall bladder wall edema was not significantly different between groups (4/28 vs 3/29, P = .74).
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE
NT-proBNP concentration and POCUS help distinguish between cNHA and ncNHA.
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