Pre-excitation alternans in a cat

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Cardiology
• Feline Medicine
• Cardiac Electrophysiology

Background:

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a common cardiac disease in cats.
• Ventricular tachycardia can be a serious complication of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
• Electrocardiographic abnormalities are crucial for diagnosing cardiac conditions in felines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the first case of ventricular pre-excitation alternans in a cat.
• To describe the clinical presentation and diagnostic findings associated with this rare condition.
• To contribute to the understanding of complex arrhythmias in feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Main Methods:

• Referral of a nine-year-old domestic Shorthair cat presenting with vomiting, panting, and weakness.
• Performance of an electrocardiogram (ECG) revealing concerning findings for ventricular tachycardia.
• Echocardiography to diagnose hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and detailed ECG review for pre-excitation alternans.

Main Results:

• Diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy confirmed via echocardiogram.
• ECG findings suggestive of ventricular pre-excitation alternans, with alternating pre-excited and sinus complexes.
• Identification of a novel electrocardiographic pattern in a feline patient.

Conclusions:

• Ventricular pre-excitation alternans is a newly described entity in feline cardiology.
• This case highlights the importance of thorough ECG interpretation in cats with suspected arrhythmias and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
• Further research is warranted to understand the prevalence and clinical significance of pre-excitation alternans in cats.