Prognostic value of plasma cortisol concentration in dogs with congestive heart failure.

Plasma cortisol concentration lacks prognostic value for cardiac mortality in dogs with CHF.

This prospective cohort study evaluated 31 dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to myxomatous mitral valve disease to determine whether elevated plasma cortisol concentration predicted cardiac mortality. Researchers measured plasma cortisol, urine cortisol-to-creatinine ratio, renal function, electrolytes, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system biomarkers, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and echocardiographic parameters at CHF diagnosis and repeated cortisol measurement 7-14 days later. Contrary to expectations, plasma cortisol concentration was not significantly associated with cardiac mortality (P=0.112) or all-cause mortality (P=0.143). However, ACE inhibitor treatment, spironolactone therapy, higher fractional shortening percentage, and lower serum potassium at diagnosis were associated with improved survival outcomes. The findings suggest that while cortisol may reflect systemic stress in CHF, it lacks independent prognostic value for predicting mortality in this population, whereas standard therapeutic interventions and conventional echocardiographic parameters remain more predictive of clinical outcomes.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.