Hi there,
Just wanting to ask the experts out there how do we confirm our diagnosis for DCM? My understanding is if we have :
1. Increase LV diastolic and systolic dimensions
2. Left atrial enlargement or biatrial enlargement
3.decreased fractioning shortening
4. atrial fibrillation
5. increased EPSS
Can we say this animal has DCM?
Hi there,
Just wanting to ask the experts out there how do we confirm our diagnosis for DCM? My understanding is if we have :
1. Increase LV diastolic and systolic dimensions
2. Left atrial enlargement or biatrial enlargement
3.decreased fractioning shortening
4. atrial fibrillation
5. increased EPSS
Can we say this animal has DCM?
Based on the european point systemen for diagnosis of subclinical DCM, if an animal has >6 points, this dog has subclinical DCM. But what if the dog is showing clinical signs, does that mean we diagnosed DCM?
In addition, my boss commented based on the M mode, if the LV free wall is still moving, DCM is unlikely. Would you agree?
7y.o MN Rottweiller had an echocardiogram in Oct’15 and again in Mar’16 (5 months) FS% was initially at 38% however, its gone to 28%( M mode). Patient was placed on Pimobenden after the first scan in Oct which owner reported dog to be doing very well. Recently, dog became lethargic with increased respiratory effort. This dog was also diagnosed with idiopathic pericardial effusion in 2013. He had a small amount of pleural effusion in oct 2015 however, the amount has increased greatly when I scanned him again in march 2016. Atrial fibrillation was also diagnosed. no VPCs were observed in ECG.
Cornell Normalized Ref Ranges
24/3/26 15/10/16
LIVSd 0.48 0.52 ( 0.29 – 0.59)
LVIDd 2.15 2.65 (1.27 – 1.85)
LVPWd 0.41 0.70 (0.29 – 0.60)
LIVSs 0.58 0.49 (0.43 – 0.79)
LVIDs 1.68 1.51 (0.71 – 1.26)
LVPWs 0.49 0.51 (0.28 – 0.87)
LA 1.67 1.95 (0.63 – 0.96)
Ao 0.65 0.80 (0.59 – 0.97)
