Long-term outcome and troponin I concentrations in Great Danes screened for dilated cardiomyopathy: an observational retrospective epidemiological study

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is common in Great Danes (GDs) but screening for this condition can be challenging. We hypothesised that cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) concentration is elevated in GDs with DCM and/or ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), and is associated with reduced survival time in GDs. One hundred and twenty-four client-owned GDs assigned echocardiographically as normal (n = 53), equivocal (n = 37), preclinical DCM (n = 21), or clinical DCM (n = 13). A retrospective epidemiological study. Echocardiographic diagnosis, VAs, and contemporaneous cTnI concentrations were recorded. Diagnostic accuracy and cTnI cut-offs were determined with receiver operating characteristic analyses. Effects of the cTnI concentration and disease status on survival and cause of death were explored. Median cTnI was greater in clinical DCM (0.6 ng/mL [25th–75th percentiles: 0.41–1.71 ng/mL]) and GDs with VAs (0.5 ng/mL [0.27–0.80 ng/mL], P