Back from Liverpool

We went to Liverpool for the PROTECT scans on Friday - the result are a bit of a mixed bag, unfortunately.

Remy - the main concern and one both me and the cardio vet thought would have heart problems - has a perfect heart. He also, however, has pulmonary hypertension: for those who aren't geeks like me, that's increased blood pressure in the lungs. Casue unknown at this stage; cardio suggests gettnig a chest x-ray to look for lung disease. Googling has not made me happy...

Paige has an ever-so-slightly rounded heart, and low contractility (contractions of the heart are slower than expected); so no problems at present but one to watch in the future as that may develop into DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy - enlarged heart).

Soli - the bad news :( Soli has occult DCM. In english - she is at the very early stages of DCM; preclinical so no symptoms at all at this stage. Exactly what the PROTECT study is looking at.


So next week, me and Her Grumpness are off back to Liverpool. We go in on one day; Soli gets fitted with a holter vest - basically like a body-warmer with sensors - which she will wear for 24 hours to get a complete picture of her heart condition, rhythms, any misbeats and so on. On day 2 we go back to have it removed then come home, and the results will be in a day or two later.

At this stage it looks likely that she'll be entered into the study - I have already given consent - in which case, she'll receive either pimobendan (retail name Vetmedin, a very good treatment for late-stage DCM but the study is looking at its effectiveness on occult DCM) or a placebo.

I've been asked if I would just go elsewhere to guarantee she'd get the drug - i.e. duck out of the study - but a friend; but as much as I am tempted, I will not. I know Soli is on borrowed time anyway; her joints are progressing that fast. But I have to do the whole 'greater good' thing: the more information the vets have about treating occult DCM, the greater the chances of helping other dobes like Soli. And with her pedigree as well, the greater the chances of identifying the genetic cause which could one day lead to genetic screening, gene therapy - or even eradication of this horribly disease.

Is all that worth risking my girl, my baby, my heart dog, getting a placebo?

Yes.