Resumo

Background: Canine hypercortisolism (HC) is the most prevalent endocrinopathy in dogs in southern Brazil. The prognosis depends on several factors including the general health status, owners´ commitment, and the development of disease complications and comorbidities occurrence, such as cardiovascular complications including mitral valve disease (MVD), systemic arterial hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy. The main objective of the present study was to assess cardiovascular parameters in canine HC, based on investigating survival-related variables. The study also aimed to evaluate the influence of concurrent preclinical (MVD) on dogs` survival and the impact of HC on MVD progression. Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 25 dogs with spontaneous HC were enrolled and divided into 2 subgroups accordingly to their echocardiographic findings: group HC (normal echocardiography at first evaluation, n = 16); and group HC + MVD (concurrent presence of stages B1 and B2 MVD diagnosed at the first evaluation, n = 9). The patients were evaluated at diagnosis (T0); 6 months after treatment begging (T1); and after 12 months of treatment (T2). The owners were further contacted by phone or e-mail for 1 more year after T2 regarding survival information. A control group (CG, n = 20) was also evaluated at T0 and T1. At each evaluation, dogs were submitted to a complete clinical evaluation and physical exam, associated with a minimum database (CBC, serum biochemistry, and urine analysis) and cardiovascular evaluation composed of systolic blood pressure determination, electrocardiogram (ECG), and echodopplercardiography. In the HC group, 11/16 dogs underwent the evaluation at T2, while 4/9 dogs from the HC + MVD group and 17/20 dogs from the CG underwent the evaluation at T2. Five dogs (31.25%) from the HC group and 4 dogs (44.44%) from the HC + MVD group died before the end of the follow-up period. In the control group, only 1 dog (5.26%) died before the end of the study. Despite the higher mortality in the HC + MVD group during the follow-up period, there was no significant difference (P = 0.632) in survival when compared with the HC group. The MVD of 4 dogs included in the HC + MVD group was classified as stage B1, while the other 5 dogs were classified as stage B2. Only 1 dog from the CG developed stage B1 MVD in the period studied; however, progression of the MVD stage was documented in 1/4 of dogs in the HC + MVD group and MVD development was documented in 3/11 of dogs from the HC group from T0 to T2. The odds ratio (OR) and respective 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for HC as a risk factor for MVD progression were 4.267 (0.4268 - 42.65; P = 0.342). Exercise intolerance (12/16 dogs) and dyspnea (6/16 dogs) were the cardiorespiratory clinical signs with the highest incidence in the HC group at T0. When compared to the control group, both exercise intolerance (P < 0.001) and dyspnea (P = 0.03) occurrence were significantly higher in the HC group. The age (P = 0.001) and the occurrence of dyspnea (P = 0.036) at diagnosis were significantly higher in dogs with HC that died during the follow-up than those that remained alive. Regarding the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias verified by ECG, no statistically significant differences were observed among groups. Discussion: The study suggests that systemic hypertension and altered echocardiographic measurements did not interfere with dogs' survival; however, dyspnea was associated with a worse prognosis. Finally, it is possible to conclude that mitral valve degeneration is a common comorbidity in dogs with HC, however, it was not evidenced their interference in the survival of dogs with this endocrine disease or even a role of the HC in the progression of the MVD.

Resumo

Scirrhous eosinophilic gastritis (SEG) is characterized by diffuse infiltration of eosinophils and concomitant fibrovascular tissue proliferation in the stomach wall. The condition is a rare occurrence with an unknown cause. Two dogs were examined with a history of progressive weight loss, emesis, melena and anorexia. Complete blood cell counts of both cases revealed anemia and eosinophilia, while ultrasonography examination revealed thickening of the stomach wall. Due to suspected gastric neoplasia and a poor clinical prognosis, the dogs were euthanized. At necropsy, both had markedly distended stomachs with a diffusely thickened and firm wall. The spleens of both dogs were enlarged with a nodular surface. Histological evaluation revealed diffuse infiltrate of eosinophils, fibrovascular tissue proliferation and fibrinoid degeneration in blood vessel walls of stomach and spleen. SEG is a rare pathological condition that must be considered as a possible diagnosis in dogs presenting gastrointestinal signs and eosinophilia.

A gastrite eosinofílica esquirrosa (GEE) é caracterizada por infiltrado inflamatório difuso de eosinófilos e concomitante proliferação de tecido fibrovascular no estômago. A condição apresenta ocorrência rara e causa desconhecida. Dois cães foram examinados com histórico de emagrecimento progressivo, êmese, melena e anorexia. O hemograma de ambos os casos revelou anemia e eosinofilia, enquanto o exame ultrassonográfico evidenciou espessamento da parede do estômago. Diante de suspeita de neoplasia gástrica e devido ao prognóstico desfavorável, foi realizada a eutanásia dos cães. Na necropsia, ambos apresentavam estômago acentuadamente aumentado, com parede difusamente espessada e firme. O baço dos dois cães apresentava-se aumentado e com superfície nodular. O exame histopatológico revelou infiltrado difuso de eosinófilos, proliferação de tecido fibrovascular e degeneração fibrinoide na parede de vasos sanguíneos no estômago e baço. A GEE é uma condição patológica rara que deve ser considerada no diagnóstico em cães que apresentem sinais gastrointestinais e eosinofilia.