Comparison Between Radiographic Vertebral Left Atrial Size (VLAS) and Echocardiographic Methods for Predicting Left Atrial Remodeling in Dogs With Mitral Valve Disease

Objective: To investigate whether there is a positive correlation between vertebral left atrial size (VLAS) and echocardiographic variables—left atrium‐to‐aorta ratio (LA/Ao), left ventricular fractional shortening (FS), left ventricular internal diameter in diastole normalized to body weight (LVIDdn), and left ventricular early filling velocity (E‐wave)—and the Mitral INsufficiency Echocardiographic (MINE) echocardiographic score. Study Design: Prospective randomized blinded study. Animals: A total of 26 dogs. Methods: Dogs diagnosed with MVD participated in the study. All patients underwent radiographic and echocardiographic evaluation. Results: A high correlation strength could be observed between the left atrial enlargement predictor VLAS and the LA/Ao ratio (88%), as well as with LVIDdn (75%) and E‐wave (74%). Furthermore, a correction strength of 84% was verified between VLAS and the MINE score. The analysis of the FS variable did not demonstrate a statistically significant relationship ( p value of 0.06). Conclusions and Clinics Relevance: VLAS has a positive relationship and important correlation with the echocardiographic variables and MINE score. Associated with its higher accessibility in clinical routine is a potential diagnostic method to detect left atrial enlargement in dogs, contributing to the diagnostic conduct in DVM.