Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Does pimobendan improve heart function in cats with hypertrophic
By Kochie, Samantha L. et al.·Published in Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine·2021·The Ohio State University Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, , Columbus, Ohio,, United States·View original on Crossref →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Effects of pimobendan on left atrial transport function in cats
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 22 cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart condition that can lead to blood clots, were given a medication called pimobendan to see if it would help improve their heart function. After treatment, the cats showed some positive changes in how well their hearts were working, specifically in the flow and emptying of the left atrium, which is important for heart health. While the improvements were small, they suggest that pimobendan could be beneficial for cats with HCM. More research is needed to determine if this treatment can also reduce the risk of blood clots.
People also search for: cat heart disease treatment · pimobendan for cats · hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats
Abstract
Abstract Background Arterial thromboembolism is a sequela of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in cats related to left atrial (LA) enlargement and dysfunction. Hypothesis Pimobendan improves LA transport function in cats. Animals Twenty-two client-owned cats with HCM and 11 healthy cats. Methods Prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical cohort study. Cats were randomized to receive either pimobendan (0.25 mg/kg PO q12h) or placebo for 4 to 7 days. Nineteen echocardiographic variables of LA size and function were evaluated. Statistical comparisons included t tests, analysis of variance, and multivariable analyses. Results Peak velocity of left auricular appendage flow (LAapp peak; mean ± SD, 0.85 ± 0.20 vs 0.71 ± 0.22 m/s; P = .01), maximum LA volume (P = .03), LA total emptying volume (P = .03), peak velocity of late diastolic transmitral flow (A peak velocity; 0.77 ± 0.12 vs 0.62 ± 0.17 m/s; P = .05), and A velocity time integral (A VTI; 3.05 ± 0.69 vs 3.37 ± 0.49; P = .05) were increased after pimobendan. Mean change after pimobendan was larger in cats with HCM compared to healthy cats for LA fractional shortening (2.1% vs −2.1%; P = .05), A VTI (0.58 vs 0.01 cm; P = .01), LAapp peak (0.20 vs 0.02 m/s; P = .02), LA kinetic energy (3.51 vs −0.10 kdynes-cm; P = .05), and LA ejection force (1.93 vs −0.07 kdynes; P = .01) in the multivariable model. The stronger effect of pimobendan in cats with HCM was independent of LA size. Conclusions and Clinical Importance We identified positive, albeit minor, effects of pimobendan on LA function in cats with HCM. Whether or not treatment with pimobendan decreases the risk of cardiogenic embolism deserves further study.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15976