Left-dominant arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy in a Fila Brasileiro dog

Abstract

Background: In human medicine, arrhythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathy was described as a primary disease of the heart characterized by fibroadipose replacement of the myocardium. Case Description: We report the case of a dog, with history of syncope and irregular cardiac rhythm. Electrocardiogram, echocardiography and a 24-hours Holter monitoring showed, respectively, presence of premature ventricular complexes with right bundle branch block morphology, increase of the left ventricle end‐diastolic diameter with preserved fractional shortening and ejection fraction, and a sinus arrhythmia as baseline rhythm with supraventricular tachycardia episodes and ventricular complexes with left bundle branch block morphology. After the death of the canine, postmortem examination showed cardiomegaly. Fibroadipose replacement of the septum and both ventricles, with left ventricle myocardial fibrosis, suggestive of a previous necrosis, was observed. Conclusion: These findings are suggestive of a left-dominant arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy which, to the best of our knowledge, has not been described in veterinary medicine.