Feline Cardiomyopathy

Chapter 8 Feline Cardiomyopathy



Richard D. Kienle




FELINE CARDIOMYOPATHIES





Clinical Classification and Pathophysiology














Ancillary Tests


• Thoracic radiography and electrocardiography may direct or reinforce suspicion that a cardiac disorder is present. They may also further characterize the disorder and alert the clinician to secondary ramifications that may require attention; however, neither electrocardiography nor thoracic radiography provides adequate evidence for ruling out, confirming, or classifying feline cardiac disease. Contrast radiography or, preferably, echocardiography, is required to confirm or rule out and categorize myocardial disease.

Key Points








• Thoracic radiography is most useful for detecting gross cardiac enlargement and clinical sequelae to cardiac dysfunction (e.g., pulmonary venous congestion, pulmonary edema, enlarged great veins, pleural effusion) (Figures 8-2 and 8-3). Restraint for radiographic procedures can be life threatening to dyspneic cats. Extreme caution should be taken before proceeding with radiography. The author often delays radiography until after stabilizing the patient (Figure 8-4). Diagnostic and potentially therapeutic thoracocentesis should precede radiography in dyspneic cats.





Therapy




















HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY


HCM is a disease of the ventricular (primarily left ventricular [LV]) myocardium characterized by mild to severe thickening (concentric hypertrophy) of the papillary muscles and ventricular walls. The word primary in this context means that the hypertrophy is due to an inherent problem in the myocardium and is not secondary to a pressure overload or to hormonal stimulation.



General Comments







Clinical Classification and Pathophysiology








Signalment and Presenting Complaints












Echocardiography


• Cats with severe HCM have papillary muscle hypertrophy, markedly thickened LV walls (7 to 10 mm), and usually an enlarged left atrium (Figure 8-5). The hypertrophy can be global, affecting all areas of the LV wall or can be more regional or segmental. Segmental forms can have the entire or a region of the interventricular septum or free wall primarily affected, the apex primarily affected, or the papillary muscles (and often the adjacent free wall) primarily affected. Papillary muscle hypertrophy may be the only manifestation of the disease.


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Aug 15, 2016 | Posted by in SMALL ANIMAL | Comments Off on Feline Cardiomyopathy

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