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. 2024 Oct;88(4):101-113.

Clinical respiratory and radiographic abnormalities in dogs with spontaneous hypercortisolism

Diana A Mendonça  1 , Flávia Tavares  1 , Cristiano C Pessoa da Veiga  1 , Fabiana Knackfuss  1 , Bruno Alberigi  1
Affiliations

Clinical respiratory and radiographic abnormalities in dogs with spontaneous hypercortisolism

Diana A Mendonça et al. Can J Vet Res. 2024 Oct.

Abstract
in English, French

The objective of this study was to characterize respiratory clinical signs, other than panting and respiratory distress, as well as thoracic radiographic abnormalities, in dogs with hypercortisolism. Although there have been case reports and studies evaluating the results of pulmonary scintigraphy, no studies have yet reviewed respiratory clinical signs and radiograph results in dogs with hypercortisolism. This study addresses this gap. A case series was evaluated and the dogs' clinical histories were obtained, including clinical signs and physical examination. Digital thoracic radiographs were analyzed to consider such parameters as the diameter of the main bronchi, lung patterns, and the size of the pulmonary trunk. The most common respiratory symptoms were snoring (61.9%), coughing (57.1%), and fatigue (52.4%). Physical examination revealed a high frequency of changes on lung auscultation (95.2%). The body condition score (BCS) was high in 95% of dogs and a significant correlation was observed between the presence of cyanosis and changes in lung auscultation, both of which present similar risk factors. Furthermore, body weight showed a moderate correlation with respiratory rate (RR = 0.571). Radiographic changes were evident in 47.5% of dogs, with the bronchial pattern being the most common (70%). Based on these results, it was observed that respiratory and radiographic abnormalities are frequent in dogs with spontaneous hypercortisolism and a high body condition score was relevant for exacerbating clinical respiratory signs, such as cyanosis and tachypnea.

L’objectif de cette étude était de caractériser les signes cliniques respiratoires, autres que le halètement et la détresse respiratoire, ainsi que les anomalies radiographiques thoraciques, chez les chiens atteints d’hypercortisolisme. Bien qu’il existe des rapports de cas et des études évaluant les résultats de la scintigraphie pulmonaire, aucune étude n’a encore examiné les signes cliniques respiratoires et les résultats radiographiques chez les chiens atteints d’hypercortisolisme. Cette étude comble cette lacune. Une série de cas a été évaluée et les antécédents cliniques des chiens ont été obtenus, incluant les signes cliniques et l’examen physique. Des radiographies thoraciques numériques ont été analysées pour prendre en compte des paramètres tels que le diamètre des bronches principales, les schémas pulmonaires et la taille du tronc pulmonaire. Les symptômes respiratoires les plus courants étaient le ronflement (61,9 %), la toux (57,1 %) et la fatigue (52,4 %). L’examen physique a révélé une fréquence élevée de changements à l’auscultation pulmonaire (95,2 %). Le score d’état corporel (BCS) était élevé chez 95 % des chiens et une corrélation significative a été observée entre la présence de cyanose et les modifications de l’auscultation pulmonaire, qui présentent toutes deux des facteurs de risque similaires. De plus, le poids corporel a montré une corrélation modérée avec la fréquence respiratoire (RR = 0,571). Des changements radiographiques étaient évidents chez 47,5 % des chiens, le schéma bronchique étant le plus courant (70 %). Sur la base de ces résultats, il a été observé que les anomalies respiratoires et radiographiques sont fréquentes chez les chiens atteints d’hypercortisolisme spontané, et qu’un score d’état corporel élevé était pertinent pour l’exacerbation des signes respiratoires cliniques, tels que la cyanose et la tachypnée.(Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier).

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chest radiographs showing a discrete bronchial pattern (red arrows) in a dog with spontaneous hypercortisolism that was included in the study. A — Right laterolateral projection (LLD); B — Ventrodorsal projection (VD).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Chest radiographs showing a moderate bronchial pattern (red arrows) in a dog with spontaneous hypercortisolism that was included in the study. A — Right laterolateral projection (LLD); B — Ventrodorsal projection (VD).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Chest radiographs showing a mixed pulmonary pattern (red arrows) — bronchial and interstitial — in a dog with spontaneous hypercortisolism included in the study. A — Right laterolateral projection (LLD); B — Ventrodorsal projection (VD).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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