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Relationship of body size to metabolic markers and left ventricular hypertrophy in cats
L M Freeman1, J E Rush, A Feugier
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA.
Insights
Larger body size and higher insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in cats are linked to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). These findings suggest early growth may influence cardiac changes, warranting further investigation into hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Comparative Physiology
Background:
- Cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) exhibit larger body size and elevated insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations.
- Understanding early growth influences on cardiac structure is crucial for feline health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess echocardiographic findings in adult cats.
- To determine the relationship between early growth parameters and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 28 adult cats from a colony with available growth data.
- Evaluated physical characteristics, body condition score (BCS), head dimensions, and measured circulating glucose, insulin, NT-proBNP, and IGF-1.
- Utilized stepwise multivariate analyses to identify significant associations.
Main Results:
- Fifty percent of cats (14/28) showed echocardiographic evidence of LVH.
- Head width, body weight, NT-proBNP, and IGF-1 were significantly associated with LVH measures.
- Body weight variation was evident by 6 and 12 months of age.
Conclusions:
- Associations between body size, IGF-1, and LVH suggest a link between early development and cardiac remodeling.
- Further prospective studies are warranted to explore these relationships and their implications for HCM in cats.
Background:
Cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are larger and have higher insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations than cats without HCM.
Hypothesis/Objectives:
The aim of this study was to assess echocardiographic findings in a colony of adult cats to determine the relationship between early growth and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).
Animals:
Twenty-eight neutered adult cats (20 males, 8 females) from a colony ≥ 3 years of age for which growth curves were available.
Methods:
Case-control study. Physical examination and echocardiography were performed, and body weight, body condition score (BCS), and head length and width were measured. Circulating glucose, insulin, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and IGF-1 concentrations were measured and growth data were collected. Stepwise multivariate analyses were performed.
Results:
Mean age was 5.2 ± 1.1 years. Current BCSs ranged from 4 to 9 (median, 6) and mean body weight was 4.88 ± 1.29 kg. Variation in body weight was apparent by 6 (mean = 3.26 ± 0.80 kg) and 12 months of age (mean = 4.02 ± 1.02 kg). Cardiac abnormalities included a cardiac murmur (n = 7; 24%), gallop (n = 3; 10%), and arrhythmia (n = 1; 4%). Fourteen of 28 cats (50%) had echocardiographic evidence of LVH. Head width (P = .017), body weight (P < .001), NT-proBNP (P = .023), and IGF-1 (P = .013-.022) were significantly associated with selected measures of LVH.
Conclusions And Clinical Importance:
Potential associations between body size, IGF-1, LVH, and HCM warrant future prospective studies.
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