MicroRNA can detect myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs, new study finds

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A new study has found that microRNAs (miRNAs)—cellular RNA fragments that regulate gene expression—can be useful in identifying myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in dogs. According to researchers, these miRNA markers may also be effective in differentiating between preclinical stage (M1 and B2) and clinical stage (stage C and D) MMVD in animal patients.¹

“Early detection is essential for significantly improving the longevity and quality of life of dogs, especially those at risk for this challenging disease, Robert Coultous, BVSc, PhD, MS, chief scientific officer and cofounder of MI:RNA—a veterinary diagnostics company leading the study—said in a news release.² “Our research marks a significant advance in personalized veterinary care and diagnostic technique. By identifying this disease before symptoms arise, we’re empowering veterinarians with a valuable tool to intervene early, helping to potentially slow the progression of heart disease and prevent lasting damage.”

The study, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, collected serum and plasma profiles from 123 dogs, focusing on 15 specific miRNA markers. Dogs were divided into a healthy control group and an MMVD group. The MMVD group was further subdivided into preclinical and clinical groups. Twenty-six patients with MMVD who had a history or clinical signs of concurrent disease excluded from the study

The expression profiles of the panel of 15 miRNAs helped distinguished between the dogs without MMVD and those with the disease. The optimized predictive value offered an overall area under the curve (AUC) of 0.93, cross-validated accuracy of 0.83, and high sensitivity (85%) and specificity (82%) in differentiating MMVD from healthy dogs.¹

The miRNA markers also showed some ability to distinguish between preclinical and clinical stages of MMVD with an AUC of 0.82, sensitivity of 0.61, and specificity of 0.79. However, the 95% confidence interval (CI) showed there was variability in the results across cross-validation runs, leading to an overall cross-validated accuracy of 0.73.¹

The study was led in collaboration with the University of Liverpool Small Animal Teaching Hospital in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Canine cases for the study were obtained from the Cardiology Service of the Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK and SRUC Veterinary Services, SRUC, Edinburgh, UK.

“Our collaborative study strengthens our commitment to enriching and extending the lives of pets, guided by our innovative diagnostic platform and deep dedication to their well-being,” said Coultous.²

“The use of nucleotide biomarkers holds the potential to transform veterinary care of cardiac disease by facilitating early intervention and lead to better health outcomes for pets,” wrote MI:RNA in the release.²

The future of myxomatous mitral valve disease

MMVD is the leading heart disease in adult dogs, with the disease affecting primarily small dog breeds and older dogs.^2,3 However, diagnosis and treatment options for the disease are advancing, with the latest findings on miRNA's potential being just one several recent breakthroughs.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) program that can detect and rate heart murmurs in dogs from audio recordings. The AI, which can also grade heart murmurs, may help primary care veterinarians identify heart disease like MMVD earlier in dogs.³

Moreover, this fall, the FDA approved Vetmedin Solution by Boehringer Ingelheim, a pimobendan oral solution for treating congestive heart failure (CHF) caused by MMVD or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. The drug is the first oral solution for CHF caused by MMVD or DCM to be approved by the FDA.⁴

References

1. Palarea-Albaladejo J, Bode EF, Partington C, et al. Assessing the use of blood microrna expression patterns for predictive diagnosis of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2024;11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1443847
2. Study paves the way for earlier detection of common heart disease in dogs. News release. MI:RNA Diagnostics. December 12, 2024. Accessed December 12, 2024. [email]
3. Bautista-Alejandre A. AI is detecting heart disease in dogs with the accuracy of cardiologists. dvm360. October 30, 2024. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.dvm360.com/view/ai-can-now-detect-heart-disease-in-dogs-with-same-level-of-accuracy-as-cardiologists
4. Coppock Crossley K. Oral solution approved by the FDA for canine heart failure. dvm360. November 22, 2024. Accessed December 12, 2024.