Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Does pimobendan improve left atrial function in cats with heart
By Kochie, Samantha L et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2021·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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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 serious complications, were given a medication called pimobendan to see if it would help their heart function. The results showed that pimobendan improved the flow and function of the left atrium, which is important for heart health. While the effects were small, they were more significant in the cats with HCM compared to healthy cats. This suggests that pimobendan might be beneficial for cats with this heart condition, but more research is needed to see if it can help prevent related complications.
People also search for: cat heart disease treatment · pimobendan for cats · hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats
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.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33241877/