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Myocardial infarction secondary to a disseminated coagulopathy in a cow
N Machida1, Y Aohagi, Y Yamaga
1Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Japan.
Insights
A Holstein cow experienced acute myocardial infarction due to coronary artery thromboembolism, presenting with severe arrhythmias and elevated cardiac enzymes. This case highlights similarities in cardiac events between cattle and humans.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a critical cardiac event.
- Understanding its occurrence in large animals like cattle is vital for comparative pathology.
Observation:
- A 3-year-old Holstein cow presented with fever, jaundice, and recumbency, rapidly progressing to death.
- Continuous electrocardiography revealed frequent, complex ventricular premature beats (VPBs) and ventricular tachycardia (VT).
- Markedly elevated serum CK-MB levels were noted.
Findings:
- Histopathology confirmed extensive myocardial necrosis in the left ventricle.
- Intramural coronary arteries were occluded by large thrombi.
- Disseminated coagulopathy was identified as the likely cause of coronary thromboembolism leading to AMI.
Implications:
- This case demonstrates a significant cardiac event in cattle, mirroring conditions seen in human medicine.
- The findings underscore the importance of considering coagulopathies in the etiology of AMI in animals.
- Comparative studies of cardiac pathology between species can enhance diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Abstract:
A 3-year-old Holstein cow was presented with a history of high fever, jaundice and subsequent recumbency. The animal died 3 hours after arrival at our department; continuous electrocardiographic examination was performed during those last 3 hours. There were ventricular premature beats (VPBs) with high frequency and complex patterns (bigeminal, trigeminal, repetitive or early cycle VPBs) and paroxysms of ventricular tachycardia (VT). Serum CK-MB was markedly elevated. On histopathological examination, large areas of myocardial necrosis were found in the anterior aspects of the left ventricle. Large, partially organized thrombi occluded the intramural coronary arteries within and adjacent to the lesion. From the histopathological findings, it appeared that a disseminated coagulopathy caused the thromboembolism in the intramural coronary arteries, resulting in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Various clinical findings, such as arrhythmias, were similar to those in man.