Survival of Cats with Heart Failure

Finn E, Freeman L, Rush J et al: The relationship between body weight, body condition, and survival in cats with heart failure, J Vet Intern Med 24: 1369, 2010. 

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a common form of heart disease in cats. Nutrition has played an important role in the optimal treatment for heart failure in cats.  This study was designed to determine if there is a relationship between body weight or body condition and survival in cats with heart failure. Data from 101 cats with heart failure were evaluated regarding initial body weight and body condition score (BCS), subsequent changes in body weight, and treatment and were compared with survival times. Survival was significantly associated with body weight in this population of cats. The results suggested a “U”-shaped curve where cats with the lowest and highest body weights had reduced survival times compared with cats with body weights in the intermediate range.  The study did not demonstrate a statistically significant association between BCS and survival though the pattern was the same as for body weight. The median survival time for all 101 cats was 93 days. [VT]

Related articles:

Payne J, Luis Fuentes V, Boswood A et al: Population characteristics and survival in 127 referred cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (1997 to 2005), The Journal of small animal practice 51: 540, 2010.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

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Finn E, Freeman L, Rush J et al: The relationship between body weight, body condition, and survival in cats with heart failure, J Vet Intern Med 24: 1369, 2010. 

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a common form of heart disease in cats. Nutrition has played an important role in the optimal treatment for heart failure in cats.  This study was designed to determine if there is a relationship between body weight or body condition and survival in cats with heart failure. Data from 101 cats with heart failure were evaluated regarding initial body weight and body condition score (BCS), subsequent changes in body weight, and treatment and were compared with survival times. Survival was significantly associated with body weight in this population of cats. The results suggested a “U”-shaped curve where cats with the lowest and highest body weights had reduced survival times compared with cats with body weights in the intermediate range.  The study did not demonstrate a statistically significant association between BCS and survival though the pattern was the same as for body weight. The median survival time for all 101 cats was 93 days. [VT]

Related articles:

Payne J, Luis Fuentes V, Boswood A et al: Population characteristics and survival in 127 referred cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (1997 to 2005), The Journal of small animal practice 51: 540, 2010.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Join us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

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Biochemical Testing for Feline Heart Disease

Zimmering, T. M., F. Meneses, et al. (2009). "Measurement of N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide in plasma of cats with and without cardiomyopathy." American Journal of Veterinary Research 70(2): 216-222.

Nt-proANP is a natriuretic peptide produced in the cardiac muscle cells of the atria. In humans, ANP concentrations are used to distinguish people with chronic heart failure and monitor progression of the disease, survivability, and the efficacy of cardiac interventions. Two recent studies in cats indicated that plasma ANP concentrations were higher in cats with cardiomyopathy (CM) than in healthy cats. This study looked at 43 cats that were divided into three groups: control cats, cats with cardiomyopathy without congestive heart failure (CM without CHF), and cats with cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure (CM with CHF). All cats had a physical examination, assessment of clinicopathologic variables that included plasma thyroxine concentration, thoracic radiography, and echocardiography. Each cat was assigned to one of the three groups based on results of these findings. A blood sample was taken from all 43 cats for a plasma Nt-proANP concentration using a human ELISA test kit. The first goal of the study was to determine whether Nt-proANP concentrations in cats with CM differ from concentrations in healthy cats. A second goal was to determine if there was a difference in values between cats with CM and no CHF from those cats that had CM with CHF. The results showed significant difference in Nt-proANP concentrations between the control cats that were healthy and the group with CM without CHF. The values were much higher in those cats assessed with CM only. The cats with CM with CHF had even significantly higher concentrations of Nt-proANP than the elevated values noted for the cats with CM and no CHF. Nt-proANP measurement could aid in the assessment of cats with cardiomyopathy and might be useful as a screening marker for the disease. The assay also has the potential for distinguishing between cats with CM without CHF and cats with CM and CHF. [VT]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Connolly, D. J., R. J. Soares Magalhaes, et al. (2008). "Circulating natriuretic peptides in cats with heart disease." J Vet Intern Med 22(1): 96-105.
>> PubMed Abstract

Biondo, A. W., E. J. Ehrhart, et al. (2003). "Immunohistochemistry of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides in control cats and cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy." Vet Pathol 40(5): 501-6.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Zimmering, T. M., F. Meneses, et al. (2009). "Measurement of N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide in plasma of cats with and without cardiomyopathy." American Journal of Veterinary Research 70(2): 216-222.

Nt-proANP is a natriuretic peptide produced in the cardiac muscle cells of the atria. In humans, ANP concentrations are used to distinguish people with chronic heart failure and monitor progression of the disease, survivability, and the efficacy of cardiac interventions. Two recent studies in cats indicated that plasma ANP concentrations were higher in cats with cardiomyopathy (CM) than in healthy cats. This study looked at 43 cats that were divided into three groups: control cats, cats with cardiomyopathy without congestive heart failure (CM without CHF), and cats with cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure (CM with CHF). All cats had a physical examination, assessment of clinicopathologic variables that included plasma thyroxine concentration, thoracic radiography, and echocardiography. Each cat was assigned to one of the three groups based on results of these findings. A blood sample was taken from all 43 cats for a plasma Nt-proANP concentration using a human ELISA test kit. The first goal of the study was to determine whether Nt-proANP concentrations in cats with CM differ from concentrations in healthy cats. A second goal was to determine if there was a difference in values between cats with CM and no CHF from those cats that had CM with CHF. The results showed significant difference in Nt-proANP concentrations between the control cats that were healthy and the group with CM without CHF. The values were much higher in those cats assessed with CM only. The cats with CM with CHF had even significantly higher concentrations of Nt-proANP than the elevated values noted for the cats with CM and no CHF. Nt-proANP measurement could aid in the assessment of cats with cardiomyopathy and might be useful as a screening marker for the disease. The assay also has the potential for distinguishing between cats with CM without CHF and cats with CM and CHF. [VT]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Connolly, D. J., R. J. Soares Magalhaes, et al. (2008). "Circulating natriuretic peptides in cats with heart disease." J Vet Intern Med 22(1): 96-105.
>> PubMed Abstract

Biondo, A. W., E. J. Ehrhart, et al. (2003). "Immunohistochemistry of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides in control cats and cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy." Vet Pathol 40(5): 501-6.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Read More

Pulmonary Edema in Cats

Benigni L, Morgan N, Lamb CR. Radiographic appearance of cardiogenic pulmonary oedema in 23 cats. Journal of Small Animal Practice. 2009;50(1):9-14.

Congestive heart failure commonly results in pulmonary edema. Thoracic radiographs are useful for the diagnosis of congestive heart failure because it enables assessment of the pulmonary veins and detection of pulmonary edema. It also helps distinguish pulmonary edema from other conditions causing similar clinical signs, such as bronchopneumonia. In dogs with heart failure, pulmonary edema typically appears as a symmetrical alveolar pattern that is most apparent in the caudodorsal lung field, although it can become generalized. The radiographic appearance of pulmonary edema is thought to be more variable in cats than in dogs. The purpose of this study was to describe in detail the radiographic appearance of pulmonary edema in cats with heart failure. Thoracic radiographs of 23 cats presenting with signs of heart failure were reviewed. Pulmonary edema in these cats was associated with a range of patterns and variable distribution. All cats had a reticular or granular interstitial pattern. This occurred in combination with an alveolar pattern (83%), with increased diameter of pulmonary vessels (71%), and with a bronchial pattern (61%). The distribution of pulmonary edema was diffuse/non-uniform in 61% of cats, diffuse/uniform in 17%, multi-focal in 17% and focal in 4%. The researchers conclude that feline cardiogenic pulmonary edema has a highly variable radiographic appearance that may complicate diagnosis.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Herndon WE, Rishniw M, Schrope D, Sammarco CD, Boddy KN, Sleeper MM. Assessment of plasma cardiac troponin I concentration as a means to differentiate cardiac and noncardiac causes of dyspnea in cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2008;233(8):1261-1264.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Benigni L, Morgan N, Lamb CR. Radiographic appearance of cardiogenic pulmonary oedema in 23 cats. Journal of Small Animal Practice. 2009;50(1):9-14.

Congestive heart failure commonly results in pulmonary edema. Thoracic radiographs are useful for the diagnosis of congestive heart failure because it enables assessment of the pulmonary veins and detection of pulmonary edema. It also helps distinguish pulmonary edema from other conditions causing similar clinical signs, such as bronchopneumonia. In dogs with heart failure, pulmonary edema typically appears as a symmetrical alveolar pattern that is most apparent in the caudodorsal lung field, although it can become generalized. The radiographic appearance of pulmonary edema is thought to be more variable in cats than in dogs. The purpose of this study was to describe in detail the radiographic appearance of pulmonary edema in cats with heart failure. Thoracic radiographs of 23 cats presenting with signs of heart failure were reviewed. Pulmonary edema in these cats was associated with a range of patterns and variable distribution. All cats had a reticular or granular interstitial pattern. This occurred in combination with an alveolar pattern (83%), with increased diameter of pulmonary vessels (71%), and with a bronchial pattern (61%). The distribution of pulmonary edema was diffuse/non-uniform in 61% of cats, diffuse/uniform in 17%, multi-focal in 17% and focal in 4%. The researchers conclude that feline cardiogenic pulmonary edema has a highly variable radiographic appearance that may complicate diagnosis.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Herndon WE, Rishniw M, Schrope D, Sammarco CD, Boddy KN, Sleeper MM. Assessment of plasma cardiac troponin I concentration as a means to differentiate cardiac and noncardiac causes of dyspnea in cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2008;233(8):1261-1264.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Read More

Biochemical Markers for Feline Heart Disease

Connolly, D. J., R. J. Soares Magalhaes, et al. (2008). "Circulating natriuretic peptides in cats with heart disease." J Vet Intern Med 22(1): 96-105.with heart disease." J Vet Intern Med 22(1): 96-105.

Natriuretic peptides are hormones produced by cardiac muscle cells, and include atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). These hormones are released in response to stretching of the atria (ANP) and ventricles (BNP), and are responsible for regulation of body fluids and blood pressure. The forms of these hormones measured in circulation are NT-proANP and NT-proBNP. In human medicine, these biochemical markers are used as patient-side tests for the diagnosis and prognosis of cardiac disease. In people with HCM, NT-proBNP is increased and correlates with severity of disease. Increased concentrations of BNP have been reported in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and congestive heart failure (CHF). In this study, serum NT-proANP and NT-proBNP levels were measured in 28 healthy control cats and 50 cats with heart disease. Of the 50 cats with heart disease, 33 were in CHF while the remaining 17 were not. The study found that both markers were able to distinguish cats with heart disease from normal cats, but NT-proBNP was able to distinguish cats without CHF from normal cats. With further investigation, it may be possible to use NT-proBNP as a screening test for heart disease in cats. Any cats with positive test results should be evaluated with a more specific test, such as echocardiography, for false positives are possible.

>> PubMed abstract

Related articles:

MacLean, H. N., J. A. Abbott, et al. (2006). "N-terminal atrial natriuretic peptide immunoreactivity in plasma of cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy." J Vet Intern Med 20(2): 284-9.

>> PubMed abstract

Winn funded research

Biondo, A. W., E. J. Ehrhart, et al. (2003). "Immunohistochemistry of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides in control cats and cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy." Vet Pathol 40(5): 501-6.

>> PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Connolly, D. J., R. J. Soares Magalhaes, et al. (2008). "Circulating natriuretic peptides in cats with heart disease." J Vet Intern Med 22(1): 96-105.with heart disease." J Vet Intern Med 22(1): 96-105.

Natriuretic peptides are hormones produced by cardiac muscle cells, and include atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). These hormones are released in response to stretching of the atria (ANP) and ventricles (BNP), and are responsible for regulation of body fluids and blood pressure. The forms of these hormones measured in circulation are NT-proANP and NT-proBNP. In human medicine, these biochemical markers are used as patient-side tests for the diagnosis and prognosis of cardiac disease. In people with HCM, NT-proBNP is increased and correlates with severity of disease. Increased concentrations of BNP have been reported in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and congestive heart failure (CHF). In this study, serum NT-proANP and NT-proBNP levels were measured in 28 healthy control cats and 50 cats with heart disease. Of the 50 cats with heart disease, 33 were in CHF while the remaining 17 were not. The study found that both markers were able to distinguish cats with heart disease from normal cats, but NT-proBNP was able to distinguish cats without CHF from normal cats. With further investigation, it may be possible to use NT-proBNP as a screening test for heart disease in cats. Any cats with positive test results should be evaluated with a more specific test, such as echocardiography, for false positives are possible.

>> PubMed abstract

Related articles:

MacLean, H. N., J. A. Abbott, et al. (2006). "N-terminal atrial natriuretic peptide immunoreactivity in plasma of cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy." J Vet Intern Med 20(2): 284-9.

>> PubMed abstract

Winn funded research

Biondo, A. W., E. J. Ehrhart, et al. (2003). "Immunohistochemistry of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides in control cats and cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy." Vet Pathol 40(5): 501-6.

>> PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Read More