Comparative study of the clinical and echodopplercardiographic aspects of left ventricular hypertrophy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats (Felis catus)

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to differentiate hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) from concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (CLVH) and to compare their echodopplercardiography measurements in random bred domestic cats. After owners consent cats of any sex or age with no history of heart disease were randomly submitted to physical examination and echocardiogram. When left ventricular hypertrophy was present on the echocardiogram, cats were further examined by chest X-rays, ultrasonography and laboratory work. Those presenting cardiac hypertrophy with the diagnosis of any disease that could cause left ventricular hypertrophy were allocated into one group (CLVH) and those presenting hypertrophy without any concomitant detectable disease were allocated to another group (HCM). Cats with ventricular hypertrophy cats were included (n=10), among which five were classified as secondary CLVH, with hyperthyroidism being the main cause and five characterized as HCM. Considering the diagnosis of concentric ventricular hypertrophy, other diseases should be investigated and ruled out, such as hyperthyroidism. It is also necessary to consider and monitor cardiac changes more closely, since their phenotypic manifestation was severer than those observed in the animals with HCM. However, to determine whether disease progression in these animals is faster severer than in others, further epidemiological studies are necessary.