Atrial Natriuretic Peptides Detect Cardiac Dilatation

Introduction: Atrial natriuretic peptides are released in cases of atrial and ventricular stretch and might be useful in diagnosis and prognosis of valvular heart disease in horses. Aims: To compare atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and N-terminal proANP (NT- proANP) levels in healthy horses and horses with valvular heart disease and to determine ANP and NT-proANP stability in samples stored at -20°C and -80°C. 

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 20 healthy horses (bodyweight 572 ± 54 kg, age 7.9 ± 4.3 years), 21 horses with valvular regurgitation without dilatation (bodyweight 565 ± 87 kg, age 12 ± 7.3 years) and 8 horses with valvular regurgitation associated with atrial or ventricular dilatation (bodyweight 566 ± 60 kg, age 13.7 ± 5.2 years). Samples were centrifuged at 4°C within 30 min after collection and stored at -20°C and -80°C. Both ANP and NT- proANP concentration were measured using an equine and human ELISA (E90225EQ and E90484Hu, USCN, Wuhan, China), respectively. Ten samples were reanalysed after 15–60 days. [...]