Radiographic lung congestion scores in dogs with acute congestive heart failure caused by myxomatous mitral valve disease

Abstract

Abstract Background In humans, lung congestion scores are predictive of recurrence of acute congestive heart failure (CHF) and are superior to cardiac biomarkers in predicting survival. Objectives The primary aim of this retrospective study was to determine if a modified lung congestion score (LCS) in dogs diagnosed with acute CHF because of myxomatous mitral valve disease was associated with time until recurrence or death. Animals Complete medical records were available for a total of 94 dogs between 2010 and 2019, but only 35 dogs fulfilled the criteria for inclusion. Methods This retrospective study used descriptive statistics to describe the cumulative and corrected LCS. Correlations were used to examine the association of the corrected LCS and time until recurrence or death, selected echocardiographic variables, and timing of furosemide administration. Results The mean LCS was 8.4 (SD 3.3) and corrected LCS was 0.48 (SD 0.19). The pattern was predominantly symmetric (40% of dogs) and focal (caudal) but more commonly right‐sided when asymmetric (40% vs 20%). The median number of days after initial diagnosis of acute CHF to readmission and death was 150 days (range 4‐572), and 266 days (range 5‐965), respectively. No significant association between the dog's corrected LCS and number of days until readmission (r = .173, P = .42) nor survival (r = .109, P = .56) was found. There was a negative significant correlation (r = −.71, P < .001) between the time interval of furosemide administration and corrected LCS.

Keywords

• alveolar‐interstitial syndrome
• echocardiography
• edema score
• mitral regurgitation