2009: Determination of the Clinical Phenotype and Inherited Nature of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in the Great Dane
Grant Status: Closed
Grant Amount: $17,585
Kathryn M Meurs, DVM, PhD; Ohio State University
September 20, 2000 - September 30, 2002
Sponsor(s): Great Dane Club of America, Great Dane Health Foundation of America, Inc.
Breed(s): Great Dane
Research Program Area: Cardiology
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Project Summary
Dilated cardiomyopathy is one of the most common heart diseases observed in the dog. Although many breeds of dogs suffer from dilated cardiomyopathy, the disease is unique in each breed with regards to clinical signs, response to treatment and long term prognosis. Unfortunately, in most cases the disease is severe and the dogs die suddenly or die from a progressive congestive heart failure. This study determined the unique clinical attributes of DCM in the Great Dane as well as to begin to evaluate for a familial nature. Medical records of Great Danes in which DCM was diagnosed on the basis of results of echocardiography were reviewed. Pedigrees were obtained for affected animals, as well as for other Great Danes in which DCM had been diagnosed. The data gathered indicated that dilated cardiomyopathy appeared to be familial and was characterized by ventricular dilatation, congestive heart failure (left-sided or biventricular), and atrial fibrillation. Pedigree analysis suggested that DCM was inherited as an X-linked recessive trait, but the mode of inheritance could not be definitively identified. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;218:729-732)Publication(s)
Meurs, K. M., Miller, M. W., & Wright, N. A. (2001). Clinical features of dilated cardiomyopathy in Great Danes and results of a pedigree analysis: 17 cases (1990-2000). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 218(5), 729–732. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2001.218.729
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