CLINICAL AND ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC CASE-CONTR OL STUDY IN DOGS WITH HEART-FAILURE IN THE STAGES I-III UNDER THE TREATMENT WITH PROPENTOPHYLLINEAND OR METILDIGOXIN/

The efficacy of the xanthine derivative Propentophylline alone and its combination with Metildigoxin were examined in a double blind study w ith placebo controls using 41 dogs with congestive heart failure in th e stages I-III Mate und female dogs of different age and belonging to Various breeds were used. The main points of study were clinical inves tigation and echocardiography. Dogs with congestive heart failure stag e I and II were given Propentophylline alone (3-5 mg/kg BW,twice a day orally), and dogs with congestive heart failure stage II and III rece ived Propentophylline in addition to Metildigoxin (0.005 mg/kg BW, twi ce a day orally). The examinations were performed prior to treatment a s well as 2, 6 and 12 weeks afterwards. Anamnestic and clinical findin gs as well as echocardiographic were statistically analysed. Echocardi ographic were: a) The routine parameters Fractional Shortening (FS), E jection Fraction (EF), Left Atrium to Aortic Root ratio (LA/AO) and b) the systolic time intervals Preelection Period (PEP). Left Ventricula r Ejection Time (LVET). Electromechanical Systole (EMS), PEP/LVET and Velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (Vcf(mean)). Both, Propen tophylline alone and its combination with Metildigoxin, induced statis tically significant to highly significant reductions in the incidence and severity of exhaustion, dyspnea and cyanosis, and markedly improve d the blood flow in the mucous membranes. A statistically significant change in the echocardiographic parameters during the administration o f Propentophylline could not be established, neither in the routine pa rameters nor in systolic lime intervals. Treatment with Metildigoxin i nduced statistically significant to highly significant improvements of all evaluable anamnestic and clinical findings. Echocardiographically significant improvements in Fractional Shortening and Ejection Fracti on and in the systolic time interval Velocity of circumferential fiber shortening were shown.