POSSIBLE VENTRICULAR LATE POTENTIALS IN DOBERMAN-PINSCHERS WITH OCCULT CARDIOMYOPATHY

Objective-To determine whether ventricular late potentials, detected b y means of signal-averaged electrocardiography (SAECG), were associate d with sudden death in Doberman Pinschers with occult cardiomyopathy. Design-Case series. Animals-39 Doberman Pinschers with occult car diom yopathy. Procedure-Cardiomyopathy was diagnosed by means of serial ech ocardiography and ambulatory electrocardiography; SAECG was performed 1 or more times for each dog. Results-12 dogs died suddenly; the other 27 died after developing overt clinical signs of congestive heart fai lure. Results of SAECG were associated with outcome, and dogs in which ventricular late potentials were detected were more likely to die sud denly. However, 5 dogs for which results of SAECG were normal (n = 2) or equivocal (3) also died suddenly. Clinical implications-Results sug gest that SAECG may be useful in predicting whether Doberman Pinschers with occult cardiomyopathy, confirmed on the basis of results of echo cardiography, are at risk of dying suddenly. However, the possibility of sudden death cannot be ruled out simply because results of SAECG ar e normal.