Hepatic and renal doppler ultrasonographic changes and the effect of new generation conventional therapy in dogs with conjestive heart failure

Heart failure is a syndrome that refers to insufficient blood pump from the heart, an improper distribution of blood, and insufficient tissue oxygenation. When the heart cannot send as much blood as its metabolic needs to the tissues, vascular changes occur in the peripheral organs, the functions of the organs deteriorate, the quality of life decreases, and death occurs. Cardiorenal and cardiohepatic syndrome are the most important complications encountered in patients with heart failure. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the effects of kidney and liver doppler ultrasonographic changes and new generation conventional treatment consisting of pimobendan, enalapril and furasemide on kidney and liver hemodynamic changes in dogs with congestive heart failure. For this purpose, renal resistive index (RI) and pulsatile index (PI), portal vein diameter and flow rate, hepatic vein diameter were evaluated in 15 dogs with B2 and higher heart failure according to the classification of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). Systole diastole rate, hepatic artery RI parameters and serum biochemistry parameters were measured. In the treatment, pimobendan (0.5 mg/kg), enalapril (0.5 mg/kg) and furasemide (2-4 mg/kg) were administered to dogs for 1 month. Doppler ultrasound and serum biochemistry values of the patients were followed in the 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks of the treatment. The control group consisted of 10 healthy dogs brought for vaccination or general examination. According to kidney doppler ultrasound findings, it was observed that renal RI and PI index values in dogs with heart failure were statistically (p<0.05) higher than healthy dogs, decreased significantly with treatment, and decreased to the level of control dogs at the end of 4 weeks of treatment. In liver doppler ultrasound findings, there were no significant differences in portal vein diameter and flow velocity, hepatic arterial RI values in dogs with heart failure compared to healthy dogs (P>0.05), and there were significant differences in hepatic vein systole-diastole ratio (P<0.05). It was observed that the hepatic vein systole and diastole ratio decreased to the level of control dogs after 4 weeks of treatment. In conclusion, it was determined that cardiorenal and cardiohepatic syndromes develop in dogs with heart failure, doppler hemodynamic changes rather than serum biochemical parameters provide earlier diagnosis in the diagnosis of liver and kidney damage, and significant improvements in heart, kidney and liver hemodynamics with the new generation conventional treatment consisting of pimobendan, enalapril and furosemide.