Abstract
Background Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common cardiopathy in middle-aged
dogs. When the dog is asymptomatic and has an enlarged left atrium, treatment is beneficial;
however, some allopathic drugs are very costly and may produce side effects. To extend
the duration of this asymptomatic phase, complementary therapies such as herbal medicine
and homeopathy are available. Although herbal therapy with extract of Crataegus oxyacantha is beneficial, there is a risk of adverse reactions—unlike with homeopathy, where
the risk is minimized with the administration of ultra-diluted doses.
Objective This study evaluated the efficacy of Crataegus oxyacantha, as mother tincture (MT) and in 6 cH homeopathic formulation, in treating the initial
phase of heart failure due to MMVD in a veterinary clinic setting.
Methods A total of 30 dogs with MMVD, 7 years or older and weighing up to 10 kg, were randomized
into three groups as follows: Crataegus 6 cH, Crataegus MT, and hydroalcoholic solution (placebo). Animals were evaluated through echocardiography
parameters, laboratory blood tests, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurements
at 30, 60, 90, and 120 days after initiation of therapy, for statistical analysis
and monitoring of the blinded study.
Results Patients who received Crataegus 6 cH showed a reduction in SBP 60 days after treatment, while those receiving Crataegus MT exhibited a reduction 90 days after the therapy was initiated. There was a significant
linear regression when evaluating the effect of treatment with Crataegus 6 cH on SBP measurements over the evaluation intervals (linear equation: SBP = 176.57 mm
Hg – 0.21x, where x represents days of treatment). There was an increase in both fractional shortening
and isovolumetric relaxation time for those patients receiving the homeopathic formulation.
Conclusions Therapy with Crataegus was beneficial for hypertensive and cardiopathic dogs with MMVD, extending the duration
of the asymptomatic phase. The reduction in SBP occurred more swiftly in the 6 cH
group than in the MT-treated dogs.
Keywords
myxomatous mitral valve disease - cardiopathy - dog - homeopathy -
Crataegus oxyacantha
