Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bronchomalacia in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve degeneration.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary internal medicine
- Year:
- 2012
- Authors:
- Singh, M K et al.
- Affiliation:
- William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
In this study, researchers looked at 16 older small breed dogs that had a chronic cough but did not show signs of heart failure. The dogs were divided into two groups based on the size of their left atrium, which is a part of the heart. They found that both groups had airway collapse, meaning their airways were narrowing, but this was not linked to the size of the left atrium. All the dogs showed signs of inflammation in their airways, and one dog had a respiratory infection. Overall, the study concluded that while airway collapse is common in these dogs, it does not seem to be related to the enlargement of the left atrium.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cough in the geriatric small breed dog with myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD), a large left atrium, and absence of heart failure often is attributed to compression of the left mainstem bronchus by the left atrium. Studies investigating this syndrome are lacking in dogs. HYPOTHESIS: Airway collapse is independent of left atrial enlargement. ANIMALS: A total of 16 dogs presenting with chronic cough in the absence of congestive heart failure. Group 1 dogs (n = 10) had moderate-to-severe left atrial enlargement based on an echocardiographically calculated left atrial:aortic surface area [LA:Ao(a)] > 6. Group 2 dogs (n = 6) had no to mild left atrial enlargement [LA:Ao(a) ≤ 6]. METHODS: Dogs were prospectively evaluated. CBC, biochemistry, urinalysis, cervical and thoracic radiographs, fluoroscopy, echocardiography, and bronchoscopy were performed. Bronchoscopic abnormalities were compared between groups using Fisher's Exact Test. P < .05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Fluoroscopy identified airway collapse in both groups. Bronchoscopic evidence of airway collapse >50% was observed in multiple bronchi with no difference between groups. All dogs had inflammation on airway cytology with respiratory infection in 1 dog in group 2. Left atrial size was interpreted radiographically as enlarged in 9 of 10 group 1 dog and in 2 of 6 group 2 dogs. VHS was above normal in both groups of dogs regardless of echocardiographic evidence of cardiomegaly. CONCLUSIONS: Results failed to identify an association between left atrial enlargement and airway collapse in dogs with MMVD, but did suggest that airway inflammation is common in dogs with airway collapse.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22332787/