Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Quadricuspid aortic valve in a 16-year-old Quarter horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of equine veterinary science
- Year:
- 2024
- Authors:
- Caivano, D et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Medicine · Italy
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 16-year-old male Quarter horse weighing 400 kg was checked because a heart murmur was noticed for the first time. During the exam, the vet found an irregular pulse and a specific type of heart murmur. Tests, including an electrocardiogram and an ultrasound of the heart, showed that the horse had a rare condition called quadricuspid aortic valve, where the aortic valve has four flaps instead of the usual three. This condition led to mild to moderate leakage of the valve. The report highlights that this unusual heart defect can be identified using ultrasound in horses.
Abstract
A 16-year-old horse, 400 kg, male, Quarter horse gelding was examined for a cardiac murmur that had not been previously heard. Physical examination revealed a regularly irregular pulse and a grade III/VI, decrescendo, diastolic murmur with a point of maximum intensity over the left heart base. Base-apex standard electrocardiographic examination at rest showed sinus rhythm with second-degree atrio-ventricular blocks. Echocardiography identified the presence of four aortic valve cusps, two equal larger and two unequal smaller cusps. Color flow Doppler examination showed a diastolic regurgitant jet emerging from the central region of closed aortic valve. Based on clinical and echocardiographic findings a diagnosis of mild to moderate aortic valve insufficiency secondary to quadricuspid aortic valve was made. This report describes a rare congenital heart defect that can be detected by transthoracic echocardiography in the horse.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39306145/