Cat with tricuspid valve defect causing breathing trouble

Abstract

Tricuspid valve dysplasia (TVD) is a congenital heart defect described in dogs and cats; however, in Brazil there are no reports of this condition in cats. Therefore, our goal was to report a case of TVD in a domestic cat. A four-year-old, female, domestic short hair cat that was seen at the Cardiology Service of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of São Paulo, for apathy, appetite loss and dyspnea for five days. During physical examination, dyspnea with a restrictive respiratory pattern due to pleural effusion was observed. Thoracocentesis was performed and 450 mL of serosanguineous fluid was drained. Two-dimensional echocardiography in the right parasternal short-axis plane at the level of the papillary muscles showed right ventricular dilatation and paradoxical septal motion. On the left parasternal apical four-chamber view, significant dilatation of the right chambers, loss of mobility of the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve and a thickened mural leaflet chordae with anomalous insertion were observed. Based on clinical and echocardiographic aspects, a diagnosis of TVD was given. Treatment was initiated with enalapril 0.5 mg/kg, furosemide 0.5 mg/kg and pimobendan 0.3 mg/kg every 12 hours, all per os. The patient experienced remission of clinical manifestations and survived for 50 days after diagnosis.