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Objectives: Trilostane is the medical treatment of choice for hyperadrenocorticism. Iatrogenic hypoadrenocorticism is thought to be rare, with most cases being transient and only a few cases of permanent hypoadrenocorticism have been reported. This study reports findings from eight cases of iatrogenic hypoadrenocorticism and examines the presence of concurrent diseases at the time of diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Medical records of dogs treated for hyperadrenocorticism with trilostane since 2008 were reviewed, and cases of clinical iatrogenic hypoadrenocorticism were extracted. Cases were considered permanent if long‐term replacement therapy was required. Results: Eight dogs met the inclusion criteria. The time between the beginning of trilostane treatment and the diagnosis of hypoadrenocorticism ranged from 4 days to 13 months, and the dosage of trilostane ranged between 1 and 8 mg/kg/day. Six dogs had a suspicion of concurrent disease at the time of hypoadrenocorticism diagnosis. The trilostane dose was decreased in two dogs; trilostane was withdrawn in one case without further relapse of hyperadrenocorticism; and glucocorticoids with or without mineralocorticoid supplementation were prescribed in five dogs. Two of these five dogs were lost to follow‐up, and the other three had a diagnosis of permanent hypoadrenocorticism. Adrenal gland ultrasonography in these three dogs showed a progressive reduction in gland sizes with heterogeneous echogenicity. Clinical Significance: Iatrogenic hypoadrenocorticism is a rare but potentially life‐threatening complication of trilostane treatment in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism. The occurrence of a concurrent disease might trigger the development of clinical signs of hypoadrenocorticism in previously subclinical dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Early recognition of left-sided congestive heart failure ( CHF) in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease ( DMVD) is important because it influences medical therapy, timing of follow-up, and outcome. Hypothesis Pulmonary vein diameter-to-pulmonary artery diameter ratio ( PV/ PA) measured by echocardiography can predict CHF. Animals Ninety-eight client-owned dogs, 37 controls, and 61 dogs with DMVD. Methods Prospective clinical cohort study. History, physical examination and Doppler-echocardiography were performed. Dogs were classified as International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council class I, II or III. Congestive heart failure was identified in a subset of 56 dogs based on radiographic findings. The PV/ PA was measured in bidimensional (2D) and M-mode by 2 investigators blinded to the radiologists' conclusions. Results Interobserver coefficients of variation for PV/ PA acquisition and measurement were <10%. The PV/ PA in control dogs was approximately 1 and increased with class of heart failure. The presence of CHF could be best predicted by measuring PV/ PA in 2D echocardiography (cut-off, 1.7; area under the curve, 0.98; CI, 0.97-0.98; P < .001) with a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 91%. Conclusion and clinical importance The PV/ PA is a simple and reproducible echocardiographic variable that increases with class of heart failure and may help discriminate dogs in CHF from asymptomatic dogs with DMVD. Additional studies are required to determine whether PV/ PA might provide additional information in the integrated interpretation of Doppler-echocardiographic indices of left ventricular filling pressures and could be used for rapid assessment of CHF in dogs in a critical care setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ( IPF) in dogs is poorly understood. In human, transforming growth factor β1 ( TGF-β1) is considered central in the pathogenesis. Objectives To investigate TGF-β1 pathway in IPF. Animals Lung tissues from 12 affected and 11 control dogs. Serum from 16 affected West Highland white Terriers ( WHWTs) and healthy dogs from predisposed (13 WHWTs, 12 Scottish Terriers and 13 Bichons Frise) and nonpredisposed breeds (10 Whippets, 10 Belgian shepherds, 8 Labradors). Methods In this prospective study, immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate expression and localization of TGF-β1 protein and proteins involved in TGF-β1 signaling ( TGF-β receptor type I and phospho-Smad2/3). Pulmonary expression of TGF-β1 and molecules involved in its storage (latent TGF-β binding proteins [ LTBP] 1, 2, and 4), activation (ανβ6 and ανβ8 integrins, thrombospondin-1) and signal inhibition (Smad 7) was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. Circulating TGF-β1 concentration was measured by ELISA. Results In IPF, high level of TGF-β1 protein was found in areas of fibrosis, epithelial cells had strong expression of TGF-β receptor type 1 and phospho-Smad2/3, gene expression was decreased for LTBP 4 ( P = .009) and β8 integrin ( P < .001) and increased for thrombospondin-1 ( P = .016); no difference was seen for Smad7, LTBP1 and 2. Serum TGF-β1 concentration was higher in predisposed compared with nonpredisposed breeds ( P < .0001). Conclusions and Clinical Importance This study identified an enhanced TGF-β1 signaling activity in IPF. TGF-β1 storage and activation proteins with altered expression represent potential therapeutic targets. Higher circulating TGF-β1 concentration in predisposed breeds might partly explain their susceptibility for IPF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In humans, a high concentration of adiponectin is associated with a favorable cardiovascular risk profile whereas, in patients with heart failure ( HF), a high concentration of adiponectin is associated with a less favorable prognosis. Hypothesis/Objectives To evaluate the physiological determinants of plasma adiponectin concentration in dogs and the influence of heart disease, myxomatous mitral valve disease ( MMVD), and dilated cardiomyopathy ( DCM). Animals One hundred and fourteen client-owned dogs and 9 Beagles from the research colony of the Clinical Veterinary Unit of the University of Liège. Methods We prospectively measured circulating adiponectin concentration in healthy control dogs (n = 77), dogs with MMVD (n = 22) and dogs with DCM (n = 15) of various degrees of severity. Diagnosis was confirmed by Doppler echocardiography. Plasma adiponectin concentration was measured by a canine-specific sandwich ELISA kit. Results An analysis of covariance showed an association between adiponectin concentration and age, neuter status, and heart disease. No association between adiponectin concentration and class of HF, sex, body condition score, body weight, circadian rhythm, or feeding was found. Plasma adiponectin concentration was negatively correlated with age ( P = .001). Adiponectin was lower in neutered ( P = .008) compared to intact dogs. Circulating adiponectin concentration was increased in dogs with DCM compared to healthy dogs ( P = .018) and to dogs with MMVD ( P = .014). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Age and neutering negatively influence circulating adiponectin concentration. Plasma adiponectin concentration increased in dogs with DCM. Additional research is required to investigate if this hormone is implicated in the pathophysiology of DCM and associated with clinical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ( IPF) is an incurable interstitial lung disease occurring mainly in West Highland White Terriers ( WHWTs). The effects of IPF on survival and on exercise tolerance in WHWTs are unknown. Objectives To evaluate survival, prognostic factors, and exercise tolerance in WHWTs with IPF. Animals Privately owned WHWTs; 15 with IPF and 11 healthy controls. Methods Prospective case-control study conducted in 2007-2012. For survival, descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier ( KM) survival curves with Cox proportional hazard ratios were performed. For the prognostic factor study, KM curves, Cox regression analysis, and logistic regression models were used. The 6-minute walk test (6 MWT) was used for measurement of exercise tolerance. Results The median IPF-specific survival of deceased WHWTs (7/15) with IPF was 32 (range 2-51) months from onset of clinical signs. The risk of death from birth in WHWTs with IPF in age-adjusted Cox model was significantly higher (hazard ratio 4.6; 95% confidence interval 1.05-19.74, P = .04) than in control WHWTs. No significant prognostic factors were identified. In 6 MWT, WHWTs with IPF walked a shorter distance, median 398 m (range 273-519 m), than healthy controls, median 492 m (420-568 m), P = .05, and the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood in diseased dogs had a moderate positive correlation with walking distance (Kendall′s tau-b = 0.69, P = .06). Conclusion and Clinical Importance IPF had a negative impact on life expectancy, but individual survival varied considerably. 6 MWT proved to be a well-tolerated, noninvasive test to evaluate exercise tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diagnosis of canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is challenging. Endothelin-1 (ET1) is a biomarker of IPF in humans, but whether ET1 can detect and differentiate IPF from other canine respiratory diseases is unknown. Objective: To evaluate whether measurement of the concentration of ET1 in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) can be used to distinguish canine IPF from chronic bronchitis (CB) and eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy (EBP). Animals: Twelve dogs with IPF, 10 dogs with CB, 6 dogs with EBP, 13 privately owned healthy West Highland White Terriers (WHWT), and 9 healthy Beagle dogs. Methods: Prospective, case control study. ET1 concentration was determined by ELISA in serum and in BALF. Results: No significant difference in serum ET1 concentration was detected between healthy Beagle dogs and WHWT. Serum ET1 concentration was higher in dogs with IPF (median interquartile range; 2.32 pg/mL, 2.05-3.38) than healthy Beagle dogs (1.28, 1.07-1.53; P < .001), healthy WHWT (1.56, 1.25-1.85; P < .001), dogs with EBP (0.94 0.68-1.01; P = .001), and dogs with CB (1.54 0.74-1.82; P = .005). BALF ET1 concentration was below the detection limit in healthy WHWT and in dogs with CB, whereas it was measurable in all dogs with IPF. A cut-off serum concentration of 1.8 pg/mL had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 81.2% for detection of IPF, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.818. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Serum ET1 can differentiate dogs with IPF from dogs with EBP or CB. ET1 can be detected in BALF of dogs with IPF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]