Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Diagnosing and treating silent heart thickening in cats
By Luis Fuentes, Virginia & Wilkie, Lois J·Published in The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice·2017·Department of Clinical Science and Services, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Asymptomatic Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Diagnosis and Therapy.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) can seem perfectly healthy but may be at risk for serious heart problems. This condition affects about 15% of cats, especially as they get older, and while many live normal lives, some can experience sudden death or heart failure. To identify high-risk cats, vets can use echocardiography to look for heart changes that might not be noticeable during a regular check-up. If a cat's blood test shows elevated levels of a specific marker, treatment with clopidogrel can help lower the risk of dangerous blood clots.
People also search for: cat heart disease symptoms · hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treatment for cats · signs of heart failure in cats
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) affects 15% of cats, and prevalence increases with age. Although many cats with HCM have normal life expectancy, some cats die suddenly, or develop congestive heart failure or arterial thromboembolism (ATE). High-risk cats can be recognized by left atrial enlargement on echocardiography, which can be missed on physical examination, as a heart murmur is often absent. Alternatively, plasma biomarkers can be measured as an initial screening test; echocardiography is indicated in cats with plasma NT-probrain natriuretic peptide concentrations exceeding 100 pmol/L. High-risk cats should be treated with clopidogrel to reduce the risk of ATE.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28662873/