Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with persistent atrial standstill and heart enlargement
By Gavaghan, B J et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·1999·Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Persistent atrial standstill in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A domestic shorthaired cat had been experiencing heart problems for a month, showing signs like an enlarged heart and fluid buildup in the chest. The cat's heart rate was slow, and tests showed no electrical activity in the heart's upper chambers. Despite treatments including medications to help with heart function and fluid removal, the cat's condition did not improve, and it was ultimately euthanized. A post-mortem examination revealed severe damage to the heart's structure. Persistent atrial standstill, which means the heart's upper chambers stopped working properly, is a rare condition in cats.
People also search for: cat heart problems · domestic shorthaired cat cardiomegaly · chylothorax treatment in cats
Abstract
A domestic shorthaired cat was presented with a 1-month history of cardiomegaly and recurrent chylothorax. The heart rate was 130 beats/min and no P waves were present on a surface electrocardiogram. Thoracic radiographs and an echocardiogram demonstrated severe biatrial dilatation, pleural effusion and restrictive pleural disease. Permanent atrial standstill was suspected. Pleurocentesis was performed and therapy was started with enalapril, frusemide and aspirin. Intracardiac electrograms revealed no atrial activity, and atrial pacing failed to elicit atrial or ventricular depolarisations. The patient was euthanased. Necropsy showed severe atrial wall thinning with marked cardiocyte loss. Persistent atrial standstill is a rare disease in the cat. Clinical signs may have been due to loss of atrial function, ventricular diastolic dysfunction, bradycardia, neurohormonal activation and reduced atrial natriuretic peptide plasma concentrations.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10561791/