Adipositas Cordis in Two Cats with Sudden Death

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pathology
• Cardiology
• Feline Medicine

Background:

• Adipositas cordis (AC) is a rare cardiomyopathy defined by myocardial fatty infiltration without tissue damage.
• Diagnosis of AC is challenging, typically necessitating histopathological examination.
• Sudden cardiac death in felines warrants consideration of rare cardiac pathologies.

Observation:

• This study details AC in two cats experiencing sudden death.
• Gross examination revealed signs of acute heart failure and increased subepicardial fat, predominantly in the right ventricle.
• Microscopic analysis confirmed increased subepicardial and intramyocardial adipose tissue in the right ventricular free wall.

Findings:

• Histochemical staining confirmed the presence of excess adipose tissue.
• No signs of cellular degeneration, inflammation, necrosis, or fibrosis were observed.
• The findings are consistent with Adipositas cordis as the cause of death.

Implications:

• Adipositas cordis is a rare but significant cause of sudden cardiac death in cats.
• Veterinary pathologists and cardiologists should consider AC in feline sudden death cases.
• Further research into the prevalence and pathogenesis of AC in felines may be warranted.