Key result
Stage B1 DCM linked to ~3-point lower GLS, identifying subclinical systolic dysfunction despite normal echo.
Why the study?
Dilated cardiomyopathy in Doberman Pinschers often initially presents with ventricular arrhythmias without echocardiographic evidence of cardiac remodeling, and the utility of global longitudinal strain to detect early systolic dysfunction in this stage is unclear.
Does global longitudinal strain assessment detect early systolic dysfunction in Doberman Pinschers with arrhythmogenic stage B1 dilated cardiomyopathy prior to conventional echocardiographic changes?
Case-Control (n=126)
No
Does global longitudinal strain assessment detect early systolic dysfunction in Doberman Pinschers with arrhythmogenic stage B1 dilated cardiomyopathy prior to conventional echocardiographic changes?
Absolute Event Rate: -16.8% vs -20.22%
p-value: p=0.044
Global longitudinal strain can identify subclinical systolic dysfunction in Doberman Pinschers with arrhythmogenic stage B1 dilated cardiomyopathy despite normal conventional echocardiographic findings.
GLS may support early systolic dysfunction detection in arrhythmogenic stage B1 Doberman DCM; leaves open prognostic value and need for prospective validation.
Background Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Doberman Pinschers (DPs) often initially manifests as ventricular arrhythmias (stage B1) without echocardiographic evidence of cardiac remodeling (stage B2). Global longitudinal strain (GLS) is a sensitive echocardiographic variable for detecting early systolic dysfunction. Hypothesis/Objectives To assess whether GLS detects systolic dysfunction in DPs with arrhythmogenic stage B1 and to evaluate the association between arrhythmic burden and GLS. Animals Sixty-three DPs with arrhythmogenic stage B1 DCM and 63 control DPs. Methods Retrospective case–control study. Stage B1 was defined as ≥300 ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) within 24 h or >50 VPCs on two 24-h Holter recordings within 1 year, with otherwise normal echocardiographic measurements. Forty-three dogs had “last-normal” (LN) examinations 6-12 months before arrhythmia onset. GLS was measured using 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) from left apical 2-, 3-, and 4-chamber views. Stage B1 dogs were subclassified into low-grade (LGvpc) and high-grade (HGvpc) groups based on arrhythmic burden. Results GLS was lower in stage B1 dogs (mean ± SD, −16.80% ± 2.71%) compared to controls (−20.22% ± 1.90%; P = .044). Stage B1 dogs had lower GLS compared to their LN examinations (mean difference, −2.45%; 95% CI, −3.67% to −1.24%; P < .001). Dogs in the HGvpc group had lower GLS (−15.45% ± 2.79%) than LGvpc dogs (−18.39% ± 1.51%; mean difference, −2.94%; 95% CI, −4.28% to −1.60%; P < .001). Conclusions GLS detects systolic dysfunction in DPs with arrhythmogenic stage B1 DCM despite normal conventional echocardiographic measurements. Higher arrhythmic burden is associated with more severe systolic dysfunction.
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Hofmeister et al. (2026) conducted a case-control in Stage B1 Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) (n=126). Arrhythmogenic stage B1 dilated cardiomyopathy (ventricular arrhythmias) vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Global longitudinal strain (GLS) (p=0.044). Arrhythmogenic stage B1 dilated cardiomyopathy in Doberman Pinschers was associated with significantly reduced global longitudinal strain compared to healthy controls (-16.80% vs -20.22%, P=0.044), detecting subclinical systolic dysfunction despite normal conventional echocardiography.
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