Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Asymptomatic Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Diagnosis and Therapy.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice
- Year:
- 2017
- Authors:
- Luis Fuentes, Virginia & Wilkie, Lois J
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Science and Services · United Kingdom
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heart condition that affects about 15% of cats, and the chances of having it increase as they get older. While many cats with HCM can live normal lifespans, some may experience sudden death or develop serious heart problems. A special ultrasound of the heart, called echocardiography, can help identify high-risk cats by showing if the left atrium is enlarged, which might not be noticeable during a regular check-up. If a cat has high levels of a specific protein in their blood, further heart testing is recommended. For those at high risk, a medication called clopidogrel can help lower the chances of developing blood clots.
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) affects 15% of cats, and prevalence increases with age. Although many cats with HCM have normal life expectancy, some cats die suddenly, or develop congestive heart failure or arterial thromboembolism (ATE). High-risk cats can be recognized by left atrial enlargement on echocardiography, which can be missed on physical examination, as a heart murmur is often absent. Alternatively, plasma biomarkers can be measured as an initial screening test; echocardiography is indicated in cats with plasma NT-probrain natriuretic peptide concentrations exceeding 100 pmol/L. High-risk cats should be treated with clopidogrel to reduce the risk of ATE.
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: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28662873/