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Physiologic valve regurgitation in normal cats
1University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, PO Box 100126, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Summary
Physiologic tricuspid regurgitation (PTR) is common in normal cats, affecting 65% of those studied. However, the regurgitant jet area is typically small relative to the overall chamber size.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Echocardiography
- Cardiac Physiology
Background:
- Physiologic valve regurgitation (PVR) is frequently observed in healthy dogs.
- The prevalence of PVR in normal cats has not been previously documented.
- Understanding PVR in cats is crucial for accurate cardiac assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of physiologic valve regurgitation (PVR) in clinically normal cats.
- To quantify the extent of PVR in feline echocardiograms.
- To establish baseline data for PVR in a feline population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective and prospective evaluation of echocardiograms from 104 clinically normal cats.
- PVR diagnosis required structurally normal valves and subjectively trivial regurgitant color flow.
- Regurgitant jet area was quantified as a percentage of the respective chamber area.
Main Results:
- Physiologic tricuspid regurgitation (PTR) was present in 65% of cats (68/104).
- Physiologic mitral regurgitation (PMR) was found in 7% (7/104).
- Physiologic pulmonary regurgitation (PPR) was identified in 2% (2/104).
Conclusions:
- Physiologic tricuspid regurgitation (PTR) is a common finding in normal cats.
- The average regurgitant jet area for PTR in cats is small relative to chamber dimensions.
- These findings provide important reference values for feline echocardiography.
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