Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How common is temporary heart thickening in cats with hypertrophic
By Park, Sin-Wook et al.·Published in The veterinary quarterly·2025·Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence and characteristics of transient myocardial thickening in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotypes.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats with heart problems were monitored over time to see if they showed signs of transient myocardial thickening (TMT), which is when the heart muscle thickens temporarily. Out of 53 cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), 16 were diagnosed with TMT, showing an initial thickening of the heart wall that later decreased significantly. All cats diagnosed with TMT survived, indicating that while TMT can occur, it may resolve on its own. This suggests that pet owners should be aware of changes in their cat's heart health and the importance of regular check-ups.
People also search for: cat heart problems · hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats · transient myocardial thickening in cats
Abstract
This study aimed to propose new diagnostic criteria and provide detailed descriptions of cats diagnosed with transient myocardial thickening (TMT) using a retrospective design. HCM phenotype cases were defined as cats with echocardiographic findings of a maximum left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) ≥6 mm on at least one presentation. TMT was defined as an increased LVWT ≥6 mm on at least two presentations, a subsequent decrease in LVWT of more than 25% within 6 months, no subsequent increase in left atrial-to-aortic root ratio (LA/Ao) ≥20% from baseline, and a fractional shortening ≤30%. A total of 145 cats had HCM phenotypes. Among cats that underwent serial echocardiography ( = 53), 16 were diagnosed with TMT and 34 with HCM. At presentation, the maximum LVWT was 8.3 ± 1.7 mm in cats with TMT, and decreased to 5.4 ± 0.9 mm after a median of 3.5 months [1-6 months]. Two cats initially classified as TMT were later identified as TMT on HCM based on persistent LV thickening, and all cats with TMT survived until the time of publication. The prevalence of TMT may be higher than expected when including asymptomatic TMT and TMT on HCM. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of dynamic changes in myocardial thickness in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41358391/