Breed-specific values for vertebral heart score (VHS), vertebral left atrial size (VLAS), and radiographic left atrial dimension (RLAD) in pugs without cardiac disease, and their relationship to Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)

PLoS One. 2022 Sep 2;17(9):e0274085. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274085. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

This prospective study aims to establish reference ranges for vertebral heart score (VHS), vertebral left atrial size (VLAS), and radiographic left atrial dimension (RLAD) in pugs. The impact of clinical severity of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), gender, body condition score, and body weight on VHS, VLAS, and RLAD were investigated. Intra- and interobserver correlation was determined. Correlation of radiographic scores to echocardiographic left atrial dimension was inspected. Additionally, for VLAS and RLAD, correlation to VHS was examined. Additionally, an assessment of thoracic and vertebral malformations was performed. Forty-seven privately owned pugs underwent physical examination, echocardiography, and thoracic radiography to determine cardiac health. Thirty-two pugs were eligible for establishing reference ranges for VHS in right lateral radiographs, which was 11.25 ± 0.62 (95% range, 10.1-12.8). Reference ranges for VHS in left lateral, and for VLAS and RLAD in right lateral radiograph were determined in 30 pugs. The VHS in left lateral radiograph was 11.01 ± 0.70 (95% range, 9.4-12.6), VLAS was 1.96 ± 0.38 (95% range, 1.1-2.8), and RLAD was 1.59 ± 0.34 (95% range, 0.7-2.4). Clinical severity of BOAS did not show any impact on radiographic measurements. For VLAS, a significant correlation to VHS was detected by all observers. No other variables had a consistent influence on the radiographic scores given by all observers. Interobserver agreement was almost perfect for VHS (0.89 on right lateral and 0.91 on left lateral image), moderate for VLAS (0.49), and fair for RLAD (0.22). More than one third of the entire study population (18 of 47 pugs) showed at least one thoracic cavity or spine abnormality, often leading to considerable changes in vertebral body shape and size.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Airway Obstruction*
  • Animals
  • Boidae*
  • Craniosynostoses*
  • Dog Diseases*
  • Dogs
  • Heart
  • Heart Atria / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Diseases*
  • Humans
  • Prospective Studies
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Reference Values
  • Syndrome

Grants and funding

PSW was the recipient of a scholarship from the “Konrad Adenauer Stiftung e.V. (Konrad Adenauer Foundation)” https://www.kas.de/de/. The study was financially supported by the “Gesellschaft zur Förderung Kynologischer Forschung e.V.” https://www.gkf-bonn.de/index.php/startseite.html. This Open Access publication was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) within the programme LE 824/10-1 "Open Access Publication Costs" and University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.