Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How well ECG and chest X-rays show left atrial size in cats compared
By Schober, Karsten E et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2007·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Diagnostic accuracy of electrocardiography and thoracic radiography in the assessment of left atrial size in cats: comparison with transthoracic 2-dimensional echocardiography.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 31 cats with heart disease was studied to see if electrocardiograms (ECGs) and chest X-rays could help predict left atrial enlargement (LAE), a condition that can indicate serious heart issues. While these tests showed good specificity, meaning they were accurate when they indicated LAE, they were not very sensitive, meaning they missed some cases. The best way to assess LAE remains a specialized ultrasound called echocardiography. If your cat shows signs of heart problems, like coughing or difficulty breathing, it's important to consult your veterinarian for the right tests and treatment.
People also search for: cat heart disease symptoms · left atrial enlargement in cats · cat ECG results interpretation
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Left atrial (LA) enlargement (LAE) is a morphologic expression of the severity and chronicity of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction, volume overload, and increased atrial pressure and has diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic importance in cats. The noninvasive gold standard for assessing LA size is 2-dimensional echocardiography (2DE). HYPOTHESIS: ECG and thoracic radiography may be used to predict LAE in cats. ANIMALS: Twenty-one healthy control cats and 31 cats with cardiomyopathy were prospectively studied. METHODS: 2DE studies, including determination of the maximum LA dimension (LAD) and area (LAA), were performed prospectively in all cats and compared to the assessment of LA size based on thoracic radiography and indices obtained from a 6-lead ECG. Results obtained from healthy cats were used to generate discrimination limits suggestive of LAE as defined by LAD > 1.57 cm and LAA > 2.75 cm2. RESULTS: In cats with LAE, P wave duration and PR interval were prolonged and radiographic LA vertebral heart size (LA-VHS) was increased (P < .05). P wave-related indices had low sensitivity (Se; range, 0.12 to 0.60) but high specificity (Sp; range, 0.81 to 1.00) for the prediction of LAE. Radiographic indices had low Se (range, 0.28 to 0.72) and high Sp (range, 0.74 to 0.95) for the prediction of LAE. Correlation analyses identified correlations between LAA and P wave duration (r = 0.47, P = .003) and LAD and LA-VHS (r = 0.70, P < .001). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: ECG and thoracic radiography are reasonably specific but less sensitive predictors of LAE in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17708390/