CHANGES IN SERUM CONCENTRATION OF N-TERMINAL PRO-BRAIN NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE AFTER TREATMENT IN TWO DOGS WITH CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE SECONDARY TO MITRAL VALVE DISEASE

Two 8-year-old small-breed neutered dogs were referred due to respiratory distress caused by a new onset of congestive heart failure secondary to degenerative mitral valve disease. Medical treatment, including a diuretic and a vasodilator, was initiated, and blood samples for evaluating the levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were collected at every visit. The two dogs had entirely different outcomes: one is still alive with its symptoms well controlled by the medications, whereas the other one was unstable during the therapeutic period and only survived for 89 days after the diagnosis was made. Serial measurements of NT-proBNP concentration revealed that its gradual decline corresponded to better outcome, whereas fluctuant and ascending concentrations reflected a poor prognosis.