Authors: Häggström, J.¹; Boswood, A.²; O'Grady, M.³; Jöns, O.⁴; Smith, S.⁵; Swift, S.⁶; Borgarelli, M.⁷; Gavaghan, B.⁸; Kresken, J.-G.⁹; Patteson, M.¹⁰; Åblad, B.¹¹; Bussadori, C.M.¹²; Glaus, T.¹³; Kovačević, A.¹⁴; Rapp, M.¹⁵; Santilli, R.A.¹⁶; Tidholm, A.¹⁷; Eriksson, A.¹⁸; Belanger, M.C.¹⁹; Deinert, M.²⁰; Little, C.J.L.²¹; Kvart, C.¹; French, A.²²; Rønn-Landbo, M.²³; Wess, G.²⁴; Eggertsdottir, A.V.²⁵; O'Sullivan, M.L.³; Schneider, M.²⁶; Lombard, C.W.²⁷; Dukes-McEwan, J.²⁸; Willis, R.²⁸; Louvet, A.²⁹; DiFruscia, R.¹⁹

Source: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Volume 22, Number 5, September-October 2008 , pp. 1124-1135(12)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Background:

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) continues to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in geriatric dogs despite conventional therapy. Hypothesis:

Pimobendan in addition to conventional therapy will extend time to sudden cardiac death, euthanasia for cardiac reasons, or treatment failure when compared with conventional therapy plus benazepril in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) attributable to MMVD. Animals:

Two hundred and sixty client-owned dogs in CHF caused by MMVD were recruited from 28 centers in Europe, Canada, and Australia. Methods:

A prospective single-blinded study with dogs randomized to PO receive pimobendan (0.4-0.6 mg/kg/d) or benazepril hydrochloride (0.25-1.0 mg/kg/d). The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiac death, euthanized for heart failure, or treatment failure. Results:

Eight dogs were excluded from analysis. One hundred and twenty-four dogs were randomized to pimobendan and 128 to benazepril. One hundred and ninety dogs reached the primary endpoint; the median time was 188 days (267 days for pimobendan, 140 days for benazepril hazard ratio = 0.688, 95% confidence limits [CL] = 0.516-0.916, P= .0099). The benefit of pimobendan persisted after adjusting for all baseline variables. A longer time to reach the endpoint was also associated with being a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, requiring a lower furosemide dose, and having a higher creatinine concentration. Increases in several indicators of cardiac enlargement (left atrial to aortic root ratio, vertebral heart scale, and percentage increase in left ventricular internal diameter in systole) were associated with a shorter time to endpoint, as was a worse tolerance for exercise. Conclusions and Clinical Importance:

Pimobendan plus conventional therapy prolongs time to sudden death, euthanasia for cardiac reasons, or treatment failure in dogs with CHF caused by MMVD compared with benazepril plus conventional therapy.

Keywords: Canine; Mitral regurgitation; Mortality; Therapy

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0150.x

Affiliations: 1: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden; 2: Royal Veterinary College London, Guelph, Ontario, Canada; 3: Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario, Canada; 4: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, Ingelheim, Rhein, Germany; 5: Scarsdale Veterinary Hospital, Derby, UK; 6: Cheadle Hulm Veterinary Hospital, Cheadle Hulm, UK; 7: Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Grugliasco (Torino), Italy; 8: Veterinary Cardiology & Imaging Pty Ltd, Dayboro, Qld, Australia; 9: Tierärztliche Klinik am Kaiserberg, Duisburg, Germany; 10: Vale Referrals, Stinchcombe, Dursley, UK; 11: Blå Stjärnan Animal Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; 12: Clinica Gran Sasso, Milano, Italy; 13: Veterinärmedizinische Fakultät, Universität Zürich, Switzerland; 14: Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany; 15: Regiondjursjukhuset Strömsholm, Kolbäck, Sweden; 16: Clinica Veterinaria Malpensa, Samarate-Varese, Italy; 17: Albano Animal Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; 18: Espoon eläinsairaala, Espoo, Finland; 19: Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, University of Montreal, Saint Hyacinthe, Canada; 20: Tierklinik am Sandpfad, Wiesloch, Germany; 21: Barton Veterinary Hospital, Canterbury, UK; 22: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Roslin, Midlothian, UK; 23: Aalborg Dyrehospital, Aalborg, Denmark; 24: Medizinische Kleintierklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany; 25: Norges Veterinærhøgskole, Oslo, Norway; 26: Veterinärmedizinische Fakultät, Universität Giessen, Germany; 27: Departement für klinische Veterinämedizin, Universität Bern, Switzerland; 28: University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; and 29: Clinique Vétérinaire, Saint Germain-en-Laye, France.

Publication date: 2008-09-01

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• By this author: Häggström, J. ;  Boswood, A. ;  O'Grady, M. ;  Jöns, O. ;  Smith, S. ;  Swift, S. ;  Borgarelli, M. ;  Gavaghan, B. ;  Kresken, J.-G. ;  Patteson, M. ;  Åblad, B. ;  Bussadori, C.M. ;  Glaus, T. ;  Kovačević, A. ;  Rapp, M. ;  Santilli, R.A. ;  Tidholm, A. ;  Eriksson, A. ;  Belanger, M.C. ;  Deinert, M. ;  Little, C.J.L. ;  Kvart, C. ;  French, A. ;  Rønn-Landbo, M. ;  Wess, G. ;  Eggertsdottir, A.V. ;  O'Sullivan, M.L. ;  Schneider, M. ;  Lombard, C.W. ;  Dukes-McEwan, J. ;  Willis, R. ;  Louvet, A. ;  DiFruscia, R.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers