Vezzosi T, Grosso G, Tognetti R, Meucci V, Patata V, Marchesotti F, Domenech O. The Mitral INsufficiency Echocardiographic score: A severity classification of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs.
J Vet Intern Med 2021;
35:1238-1244. [PMID:
33951235 PMCID:
PMC8163114 DOI:
10.1111/jvim.16131]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
There is no commonly shared severity score for myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) based on routinely acquired echocardiographic variables.
Hypothesis/Objectives
To propose an easy‐to‐use echocardiographic classification of severity of MMVD in dogs.
Animals
Five hundred and sixty dogs with MMVD.
Methods
This was a retrospective, multicenter, observational study. The proposed Mitral INsufficiency Echocardiographic (MINE) score was based on 4 echocardiographic variables: left atrium‐to‐aorta ratio, left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter normalized for body weight, fractional shortening, and E‐wave transmitral peak velocity. Specific echocardiographic cutoffs were defined based on previous prognostic studies on MMVD, and severity scores were assigned as follows: mild (score: 4‐5), moderate (score: 6‐7), severe (score: 8‐12), late stage (score: 13‐14).
Results
Median survival time was significantly different (P < .05) between the proposed severity classes: mild (2344 days, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1877‐2810 days), moderate (1882 days, 95% CI 1341‐2434 days), severe (623 days, 95% CI 432‐710 days), and late stage (157 days, 95% CI 53‐257 days). A MINE score >8 was predictive of cardiac death (area under the curve = 0.85; P < .0001; sensitivity 87%, specificity 73%). In the multivariable analysis, all the echocardiographic variables of the MINE score were independent predictors of death because of heart disease (P < .001).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
The MINE score is a new easy‐to‐use echocardiographic classification of severity of MMVD, which has been proven to be clinically effective as it is associated with survival. This classification provides prognostic information and could be useful for an objective echocardiographic assessment of MMVD.
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