Avaliação de lesões em orgãos-alvo em animais hipertensos atendidos na Superintendência Unidade Hospitalar Veterinária (SUHVU): uma análise retrospectiva

Abstract

Hypertension is an initially asymptomatic and silent disease, with age being a less clear factor in dogs and cats. For blood pressure measurement, a device that provides values meeting the established validation standards for dogs and cats is required, along with a qualified professional who handles the device, the animal, and adjusts the environment to ensure measurement without significant interference from external factors. Hypertension can be classified into Situational Hypertension, Secondary Hypertension, and Idiopathic Hypertension. This retrospective study aimed to assess target organ injuries in hypertensive animals treated at the University Veterinary Hospital Unit (SUHVU). Data from 35 animals, regardless of species, age, and weight, were analyzed. Among the analyzed animals, 8.6% had ocular lesions compatible with hypertension. Among the 25 hypertensive and severely hypertensive animals, 16% had renal lesions assessed through the urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC) test, 24% had borderline proteinuria, while 60% showed no renal lesions compatible with hypertension. Only 2.86% of the animals had cardiac lesions compatible with hypertension, specifically concentric left ventricular hypertrophy. No neurological lesions compatible with hypertension were observed in the analyzed animals. This study highlights the importance of renal assessment in hypertensive animals and the consideration of hypertension as a systemic disease that affects other organs, such as the kidneys, eyes, heart, and brain.