Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: an update

HCM continues to be a challenging disease for veterinarians. Acute cases with ATE or CHF are difficult to manage, and we still lack the tools to advise owners well with regard to their pet's prognosis. Nevertheless, it appears that the historical view of HCM as a serious disease with a poor prognosis is now being adjusted to accommodate the apparently large numbers of asymptomatic cats with much longer survival times. Although there is evidence of a genetic cause of the disease in at least several families of cats, no disease-associated mutation has been found to be causative of feline HCM. Prophylactic treatment of asymptomatic or mildly affected cats continues to be empiric, but a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study on chronic therapy of symptomatic HCM cats should provide new guidance for practitioners managing these cases.