Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is secreted by cardiac myocytes and its plasma concentration often increases in patients with cardiovascular disease in response to blood volume expansion and stretching of cardiac chambers. Increase in plasma concentration of ANP (Cp ANp ) has been observed in humans with cardiac diseases and horses with left-sided valvular disease. This study aimed to investigate plasma ANP level in horses with pulmonic valve regurgitationand its association with echocardiographic parameters. Clinical and echocardiographic examinations were performed on several jumping horses in the equestrian clubs of Tehran, Iran. Eleven horses with pulmonic valve regurgitation were identified by echocardiographic examination and were included in the case group (Group A), and 14 healthy horses were taken as the control group (Group B). Then, B-Mode, M-Mode and doppler echocardiographic parameters were measured and compared between the two groups. Blood samples from the jugular vein were collected in tubes and were transferred to laboratory. Cp ANp was measured by Sandwich ELISA method using an equine specific kit.MeanCp ANp of horses in group­1 and group2 were 6.39±2.87 pg/ml and 4.78±2.45 pg/ml respectively, but no significant differences were observed. Except for right ventricular internal diameter, other echocardiographic parameters were not significantly different between the two groups. Cp ANp was significantly correlated to systolic right ventricle length and left ventricular width. In conclusionno significant differences were observed between Cp ANp of healthy horses and horses with pulmonic regurgitation. Based on the Correlation between CpANP and right ventricle length, an elevation in Cp ANp might be expected in severe pulmonic regurgitation with change in ventricle`s dimensions.
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