Prospective clinical trial evaluating spironolactone in Doberman pinschers with congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy

Introduction/objectives: Whether the aldosterone antagonist spirono-lactone has beneficial survival effects in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is not known. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of spir-onolactone, when added to conventional therapy, on survival time in Doberman pinschers with congestive heart failure (CHF) due to DCM. Animals: Sixty-seven client-owned Doberman pinschers with CHF due to DCM. Materials and methods: The trial design was prospective, randomized, blinded, and placebo controlled. Dogs were randomized to receive 50-75 mg of spironolactone twice daily (n = 34) or a placebo (n = 33), in addition to standard CHF therapy. Follow-up visits were targeted every one-six weeks until endpoint. Quality-of-life questionnaire and physical examination were performed at every visit, while renal biochemistry, ECG, echocardiography, and thoracic radiography were reas-sessed as needed. The primary endpoint was time to cardiac death, defined as death or euthanasia from CHF or sudden death.