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Effect of amlodipine on echocardiographic variables in cats with systemic hypertension
P S Snyder1, D Sadek, G L Jones
1Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, USA. snyderp@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
Insights
Systemic hypertension in cats commonly causes left ventricular hypertrophy. Treatment with amlodipine reduced blood pressure and decreased the prevalence of this cardiac condition, suggesting potential resolution.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Feline Medicine
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Systemic hypertension is linked to poor outcomes in humans with left ventricular hypertrophy.
- Cardiac disease is a frequent complication in cats suffering from systemic hypertension.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize echocardiographic findings in cats with systemic hypertension.
- To determine if antihypertensive treatment with amlodipine leads to the resolution of cardiac hypertrophy.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiography was performed on 19 cats with naturally occurring systemic hypertension.
- 14 cats were re-evaluated after at least 3 months of amlodipine treatment.
- Measurements included interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular free wall thickness, and left atrium size.
Main Results:
- Hypertensive cats exhibited significantly thicker cardiac walls and larger left atria compared to normal values.
- 74% of cats met criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy before treatment.
- After amlodipine treatment, systolic blood pressure decreased significantly, and the prevalence of ventricular hypertrophy reduced (11/14 vs. 6/14 cats).
Conclusions:
- Left ventricular hypertrophy is prevalent in hypertensive cats.
- Amlodipine treatment effectively lowers blood pressure in cats.
- Initiation of amlodipine therapy may lead to the resolution of ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive cats.
Abstract:
Left ventricular hypertrophy signals a poor prognosis in hypertensive humans. Cardiac disease is common in cats with systemic hypertension. The aims of this study were to characterize the echocardiographic findings of cats with systemic hypertension and to determine if reducing the degree of hypertension is associated with resolution of cardiac hypertrophy. Echocardiographic examinations were performed on 19 cats with naturally occurring systemic hypertension. Fourteen of these cats were subsequently studied after a minimum of 3 months of treatment with the antihypertensive agent amlodipine. Hypertensive cats had a significantly thicker interventricular septum in both systole and diastole, thicker left ventricular free wall in both systole and diastole, and larger left atrium compared to the published normal values and 74% (14/19) of the cats met criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy (diastolic septal or free-wall thickness > 0.60 cm). Systolic blood pressure was lower after treatment (217 +/- 25 mm Hg, range: 180-275 mm Hg; and 142 +/- 27 mm Hg, range: 90-200 mm Hg). No difference was found in any of the echocardiographic measurements between the untreated and treated cats, although more cats had ventricular hypertrophy before treatment (11/14) than after initiating amlodipine (6/14; P = .006). Ventricular hypertrophy is common in hypertensive cats and may resolve after the initiation of amlodipine.