01994: Early and Accurate Prediction of Mitral Valve Disease Development

Grant Amount: $36,881

Sydney N. Moise, DVM; Cornell University

January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014

Sponsor(s): American Shetland Sheepdog Association, Collie Health Foundation, Finnish Lapphund Club of America, Inc., Hoffman Miniature Schnauzer Donor Advised Fund, Naugatuck Valley Kennel Club, Inc., Orthopedic Foundation for Animals

Breed(s): -All Dogs

Research Program Area: Cardiology

Abstract

In the dog, 75% of heart disease is caused by myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD). The cause of MMVD remains incompletely defined but likely involves the interplay of genetics, aging, and mechanical damage. A dog's mitral valve opens and closes approximately 120,000 times per day under a constant barrage of mechanical forces. With such stress, the struggle of the valvular tissue to stay 'normal' is constant. Dr. Moise hypothesizes that dogs that suffer from MMVD have an altered structure of the mitral valve apparatus, which in turn is linked to breed size and/or cartilage development. Using a computer algorithm to assess the motion of the mitral valve leaflets, Dr. Moise and colleagues will define the mechanical signatures of valvular strain. They believe that these signatures are identifiable at a young age in the breeds most commonly affected with MMVD. A quantitative understanding of mitral leaflet strain will both improve our ability to predict MMVD susceptibility and increase the power and resolution of gene mapping efforts, and if successful, will inform new targets and timelines for therapeutic intervention.

Publication(s)

None at this time.