Abstract: Background- Circulating N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations accurately discriminate congestive heart failure (CHF) from non-cardiac respiratory dyspnea (NC-RD), yet quantitative results may take > 48 hours. Our objective was to determine if the quantitative Bionote Vcheck point-of-care (POC) NT-proBNP serum assay accurately discriminates CHF vs NC-RD in dogs and cats.
Hypothesis- Quantitative POC NT-proBNP will accurately discriminate CHF vs NC-RD in dogs and cats.
Animals- Sixty-nine dogs and 40 cats from 2 university hospitals.
Methods- In this prospective cross-sectional study, serum NT-proBNP concentrations were measured in client-owned dogs and cats presenting for dyspnea. Categorization of CHF was based on echocardiographic cardiac disease and edema or effusion that resolved with diuretic treatment. Normality was assessed using a Shapiro-Wilk test and groups were compared using a Mann-Whitney test and receiver operating curves. A P < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results- CHF animals had higher (P < 0.001) median NT-proBNP concentrations (cat, 1293 pmol/L; dog, 3107 pmol/L) compared with NC-RD (cat, 49 pmol/L; dog, 726 pmol/L). ROC analysis indicated excellent discriminatory ability in dogs (AUC = 0.97, P < 0.0001) and cats (AUC = 0.99, P < 0.0001). An optimal cutoff in dogs of > 1900 pmol/L achieved a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 95%. An optimal cutoff in cats of > 272 pmol/L achieved a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 94%.
Conclusion and Clinical Importance- The Bionote Vcheck NT-proBNP assay is an accurate quantitative POC test that may be helpful in the immediate assessment of dyspneic dogs and cats.
