Comparison of plasma aldosterone concentration among clinical status groups of dogs with chronic heart failure
Knowlen, G.G.; Kittleson, M.D.; Nachreiner, R.F.; Eyster, G.E.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 183(9): 991-996
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 12002592 Document Number: 220286
Twenty-three dogs with chronic heart failure were classified by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) criteria. Plasma aldosterone was measured at intervals after diagnosis and compared with 24 control dogs. Mean plasma aldosterone (pg/ml) was 420 +or- 223 in 18 dogs in NYHA class IV, 185 +or- 127 in 5 dogs in class III and 76 +or- 33 in controls; 5 dogs reclassified from class IV to III after treatment had a mean of 185 +or- 127. Plasma aldosterone was reduced in 6 dogs treated with captopril (396 +or- 191 to 172 +or- 137) and increased in 5 dogs after hydralazine therapy (275 +or- 156 to 444 +or- 174). It was concluded that heart failure increased plasma aldosterone in the dog and that the increase was directly related to the severity of the disease.