Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is considered to be the most common heart disease of dogs globally. According to the recent statistics, approximately 10% of dogs presented to the animal hospitals have one or more types of heart diseases in which MMVD accounted for 75% of that population. The prevalence of MMVD increases markedly with age in small to medium breed dogs. The disease may progress from asymptomatic to acute congestive heart failure eventually and often prove fatal. In 2009, the ACVIM Specialty of Cardiology consensus panel inaugurated 4 basic stages of heart disease and heart failure in dogs suffering from MMVD (i.e. A, B, C and D) and recommended to initiate therapy in stage C. Interestingly, the results of a multi-center, blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, “Evaluation of Pimobendan In dogs with Cardiomegaly caused by preclinical mitral valve disease (EPIC)”, have proved the efficacy of pimobendan, an inodilator, for delaying the onset of clinical signs when used in dogs with MMVD stage B2. This led to the consensus panel issued a new guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of MMVD in dogs since 2019. This new guideline recommends initiating therapy in canine MMVD stage B2 (i.e. asymptomatic disease with cardiomegaly inferred from thoracic radiography and echocardiography). Currently, development of novel strategies, medical devices, drugs as well as new use of old drugs have been tested in the patients with MMVD. This will further provide new prospects to the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. Although there are several advancements in technologies for the treatment of CHF, development of novel paradigms for the therapeutic management of asymptomatic (ACVIM stages B1 and B2) and symptomatic (ACVIM stage C and D) MMVD, however, awaits further refinement.
In this Research Topic, we invite several types of contributions (original research, review, case report) covering the new paradigms for management of canine MMVD and recent advances in physiology and pathophysiology that will enhance our understanding of the disease. The topics include, but are not limited to, the following categories:
-An update or novel knowledge on valvular degeneration and valvular regurgitation induced heart failure: from basic to bedside;
-Novel drugs or combinations of multi-drugs therapy with pleiotropic cardioprotective effects to delay the onset of symptomatic MMVD;
-New therapeutic strategies in both asymptomatic and symptomatic MMVD: exercise, gene therapy, gene editing, personalized medicine;
-Preclinical or clinical studies assessing mechanism(s) and therapeutic strategies for management of MMVD in animal models or patients;
-Updated or novel biomarkers that can help to identify dogs at risk of impending heart failure;
-New devices forthe improvement of clinical signs or quality of life in symptomatic MMVD.
Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is considered to be the most common heart disease of dogs globally. According to the recent statistics, approximately 10% of dogs presented to the animal hospitals have one or more types of heart diseases in which MMVD accounted for 75% of that population. The prevalence of MMVD increases markedly with age in small to medium breed dogs. The disease may progress from asymptomatic to acute congestive heart failure eventually and often prove fatal. In 2009, the ACVIM Specialty of Cardiology consensus panel inaugurated 4 basic stages of heart disease and heart failure in dogs suffering from MMVD (i.e. A, B, C and D) and recommended to initiate therapy in stage C. Interestingly, the results of a multi-center, blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, “Evaluation of Pimobendan In dogs with Cardiomegaly caused by preclinical mitral valve disease (EPIC)”, have proved the efficacy of pimobendan, an inodilator, for delaying the onset of clinical signs when used in dogs with MMVD stage B2. This led to the consensus panel issued a new guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of MMVD in dogs since 2019. This new guideline recommends initiating therapy in canine MMVD stage B2 (i.e. asymptomatic disease with cardiomegaly inferred from thoracic radiography and echocardiography). Currently, development of novel strategies, medical devices, drugs as well as new use of old drugs have been tested in the patients with MMVD. This will further provide new prospects to the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. Although there are several advancements in technologies for the treatment of CHF, development of novel paradigms for the therapeutic management of asymptomatic (ACVIM stages B1 and B2) and symptomatic (ACVIM stage C and D) MMVD, however, awaits further refinement.
In this Research Topic, we invite several types of contributions (original research, review, case report) covering the new paradigms for management of canine MMVD and recent advances in physiology and pathophysiology that will enhance our understanding of the disease. The topics include, but are not limited to, the following categories:
-An update or novel knowledge on valvular degeneration and valvular regurgitation induced heart failure: from basic to bedside;
-Novel drugs or combinations of multi-drugs therapy with pleiotropic cardioprotective effects to delay the onset of symptomatic MMVD;
-New therapeutic strategies in both asymptomatic and symptomatic MMVD: exercise, gene therapy, gene editing, personalized medicine;
-Preclinical or clinical studies assessing mechanism(s) and therapeutic strategies for management of MMVD in animal models or patients;
-Updated or novel biomarkers that can help to identify dogs at risk of impending heart failure;
-New devices forthe improvement of clinical signs or quality of life in symptomatic MMVD.