Comparison Between Radiographic Vertebral Left Atrial Size (VLAS) and Echocardiographic Methods for Predicting Left Atrial Remodeling in Dogs With Mitral Valve Disease

Objective: To investigate whether there is a positive correlation between vertebral left atrial size (VLAS) and echocardiographic variables-left atrium-to-aorta ratio (LA/Ao), left ventricular fractional shortening (FS), left ventricular internal diameter in diastole normalized to body weight (LVIDdn), and left ventricular early filling velocity (E-wave)-and the Mitral INsufficiency Echocardiographic (MINE) echocardiographic score. Study Design: Prospective randomized blinded study. Animals: A total of 26 dogs. Methods: Dogs diagnosed with MVD participated in the study. All patients underwent radiographic and echocardiographic evaluation. Results: A high correlation strength could be observed between the left atrial enlargement predictor VLAS and the LA/Ao ratio (88%), as well as with LVIDdn (75%) and E-wave (74%). Furthermore, a correction strength of 84% was verified between VLAS and the MINE score. The analysis of the FS variable did not demonstrate a statistically significant relationship (p value of 0.06). Conclusions and Clinics Relevance: VLAS has a positive relationship and important correlation with the echocardiographic variables and MINE score. Associated with its higher accessibility in clinical routine is a potential diagnostic method to detect left atrial enlargement in dogs, contributing to the diagnostic conduct in DVM.