Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE) in Dogs: Reference Values and Impact of Pulmonary Hypertension

Background The impact of pulmonary hypertension (PH) on right ventricular systolic function is difficult to assess. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is an echocardiographic measurement of right ventricular systolic function and a strong predictor of outcome in human PH patients. Hypothesis/Objectives Determine a reference range for TAPSE in healthy dogs, and quantify TAPSE in dogs with PH. It is hypothesized that TAPSE is lower in dogs with PH compared with a reference group, and decreases as PH worsens. Animals Fifty normal dogs and 30 dogs with PH. Methods TAPSE was measured by 2‐dimensional echocardiography‐guided M‐mode from the left apical 4‐chamber view. Peak systolic tricuspid valve regurgitation jet velocity was measured by continuous‐wave Doppler to estimate right ventricular‐to‐right atrial pressure gradient. PH was subjectively classified as mild, moderate, and severe. Results There was a curvilinear correlation between TAPSE and body weight. The upper and lower limits of the 95% reference interval were determined by quantile regression. Interobserver and intraobserver agreement was adequate with a coefficient of variation