Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Plasmapheresis treatment for cats with thick blood and heart failure
By Boyle, Tonya E et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2011·Port City Veterinary Referral Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Treatment of three cats with hyperviscosity syndrome and congestive heart failure using plasmapheresis.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Three cats were brought to a veterinary hospital because they were experiencing severe breathing problems and had collapsed. They were diagnosed with congestive heart failure caused by a condition called hyperviscosity syndrome, linked to a type of cancer called plasma cell neoplasia. All three cats showed signs of heart issues and had enlarged hearts. The vets performed a treatment called plasmapheresis, which helped remove excess proteins from their blood, and this successfully improved their breathing and overall condition. Plasmapheresis can be a helpful treatment for cats with heart failure due to hyperviscosity syndrome while the underlying cause is being addressed.
People also search for: cat congestive heart failure treatment · cat breathing problems · hyperviscosity syndrome in cats · plasmapheresis for cats · cat heart disease symptoms
Abstract
Three cats were evaluated at a veterinary teaching hospital for congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to hyperviscosity syndrome from plasma cell neoplasia. All cats had severe hyperproteinemia due to hyperglobulinemia. Multiple myeloma or plasma cell neoplasia was diagnosed based on cytopathology and post mortem examination. The cats presented with signs of CHF including acute collapse, tachypnea, increased respiratory effort, and pulmonary crackles. All cats had heart murmurs and echocardiographic signs consistent with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. An enlarged left atrium was found in all cats and two of three cats also had spontaneous echocardiographic contrast. Plasmapheresis (centrifugal plasma exchange) was performed on all three cats by the removal of whole blood and the infusion of a balanced electrolyte solution while the whole blood was centrifuged and separated. The RBCs were then washed before being readministered to the patient. Plasmapheresis alleviated the clinical signs of CHF (tachypnea) in all three cats. Plasmapheresis should be considered in cases of CHF secondary to hyperviscosity syndrome to rapidly alleviate clinical signs associated with heart failure while diagnosis of the underlying cause is made and appropriate therapy implemented.
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 PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21164170/