Reversible pulmonary hypertension in a cat.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Cardiology
• Oncology

Background:

• A 13-year-old domestic shorthair cat received palliative radiotherapy and carboplatin for recurrent fibrosarcoma.
• The cat presented with sudden respiratory distress, indicative of pleural effusion.

Observation:

• Echocardiography revealed significant right-sided cardiac enlargement, tricuspid regurgitation, and pulmonary hypertension.
• These clinical signs and echocardiographic findings were observed following chemotherapy.

Findings:

• Treatment for congestive heart failure and suspected pulmonary thromboembolism led to complete resolution of clinical signs.
• Echocardiographic and Doppler evidence of cardiac enlargement and pulmonary hypertension also resolved completely within 25 days.

Implications:

• This case suggests a potential link between carboplatin treatment, pulmonary thromboembolism, and reversible pulmonary hypertension in cats.
• This is the first reported instance of reversible pulmonary hypertension secondary to pulmonary thromboembolism in a feline patient.