Holter electrocardiography in dogs showing doxorubicin-induced dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Early identification of arrhythmias in dogs showing doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy was studied. Ten healthy dogs were assigned to groups A (n=5) and B (n=5). Dogs from group B were given doxorubicin 30mg/m² intravenously, every 21 days, until a cumulative dose of 180mg/m² or 240mg/m² was reached. Dogs from group A (used as control) were administered saline intravenously at the same group B intervals. As soon as myocardium dysfunction was observed in dogs from group B, determined by a shortening fraction below 20%, increased E-point to septal separation above 0.7cm, and increased end-systolic left ventricular volume index (61.4ml/m²), a 24-hour Holter was recorded in all dogs from both groups. There was an increase of minimum heart rate (44.6%) and mean heart rate (41.7%) in animals from group B in comparison with the control animals. Either supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias were observed, despite group B dogs showed higher occurrence of supraventricular arrhytmias. Holter monitoring is efficient in early determination of heart rate and cardiac rhythm alterations in dogs showing doxorubicin-induced myocardial dysfunction.