Iron status in dogs with mitral valve disease.

In people, serum iron (SI) deficiency (SID) is a frequent co-morbidity in chronic heart failure (CHF), reducing quality of life and survival (Belmar Vega L, 2016). Mitral valve disease (MVD), the most common canine acquired heart disease, lead to CHF. (Borgarelli, 2012). Aims of the study were determine prevalence and characteristics of SID (SI 23%) was below the minimum level in 4/10 dogs. No differences in SI were found between ACVIM classes, symptomatic and non-symptomatic patients. Log-rank analysis showed significant shorter survival in MVD dogs with SID (p: 0.030), nevertheless multivariate Cox analysis revealed that only the presence of CHF symptoms affect survival (p: 0.001). TIBC and %SAT suggest that SID is most frequently true (primary) than functional (secondary).