Proceeding of Veterinary and Animal Science Days 2016, 8th- 10th June, Milan, Italy 

HAF © 2013 

Vol. III, No. 1s  ISSN: 2283-3927 

   

 

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Keywords 

Dog, Mitral valve disease (MVD), 

chronic heart failure (CHF), 

serum iron deficiency (SID), TIBC  

 

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR 

Alice Savarese 

alice.savarese@unimi.it 

 

JOURNAL HOME PAGE 

riviste.unimi.it/index.php/haf 

Iron status in dogs with mitral valve disease. 

 

A. Savaresea, M. Proboa, C. Locatellia, G. Trainia, P.G. Brambillaa, S. 

Paltrinieria  

 

 

 

aDepartment of Veterinary Medicine (DIMEVET), Università degli Studi di 
Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy. 

 

 

Abstract 

In people, serum iron (SI) deficiency (SID) is a frequent co-morbidity in chronic heart failure (CHF), 

reducing quality of life and survival (Belmar Vega L, 2016).  

Mitral valve disease (MVD), the most common canine acquired heart disease, lead to CHF. (Borgarelli, 

2012).  

Aims of the study were determine prevalence and characteristics of SID (SI < 90 µg/dL) in MVD dogs, 

analyze differences in SI among ACVIM classes, symptomatic and non-symptomatic patients, and study 

effects on survival. 

Fifty-four privately owned MVD dogs (DIMEVET, January 2015 - April 2016) with complete physical 

evaluation, chest x-ray, echocardiography and serum biochemical panel were included. 

Iron status was evaluated measuring SI, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) and percentage transferrin 

saturation (%SAT). 

Median age of dogs was 11 years (IQR 10 - 14), median body weight 11 kg (IQR 6 – 22).  

Most were intact males (42%) mongrels (46%). Non-symptomatic and symptomatic dogs were 64% 

(n=36) and 33% (n=18). 

The prevalence of SID was 18.5 % (10/54:  6 symptomatic and 4 non-symptomatic). Only 3 patients (6%) 

presented anemia (Hct ≤ 37%).  

TIBC (NV: 270-496 μg/dL) was within or above the reference range in 6/10 dogs with SID, while %SAT 

(NV: > 23%) was below the minimum level in 4/10 dogs. 

No differences in SI were found between ACVIM classes, symptomatic and non-symptomatic patients. 

Log-rank analysis showed significant shorter survival in MVD dogs with SID (p: 0.030), nevertheless 

multivariate Cox analysis revealed that only the presence of CHF symptoms affect survival (p: 0.001).  

TIBC and %SAT suggest that SID is most frequently true (primary) than functional (secondary). 
 

References 
Belmar Vega, L., De Francisco, A., Albines Fiestas, Z., Serrano Soto, M., Kislikova, M., Seras Mozas, M., Unzueta, M.G., Aria s Rodríguez, M., 2016. Investigation of iron deficiency in patients 

with congestive heart failure: A medical practice that requires greater attention. Nefrologia 16, in press, doi: 10.1016/j.nefro.2016.03.001 

Borgarelli, M., Buchanan, J.W., 2012. Historical review, epidemiology and natural history of degenerative mitral valve disease. J Vet Cardiol. 14, 93-101. 

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