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Transient Myocardial Thickening in an 11-Year-Old Cat Infected With Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Treated With
M Dhunputh1, M Petibon2, A Avé1
1Cardiology Department, Teaching Hospital for Companion Animals, National Veterinary School of Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France, vet-alfort.fr.
Case Reports in Veterinary Medicine
|July 13, 2026
Summary
This case report details a rare instance of transient myocardial thickening in a cat with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Treatment with nucleoside analog GS-441524 led to resolution of cardiac signs, suggesting FIP-related myocardial changes.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Feline Infectious Diseases
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) can present with overlapping clinical signs of congestive heart failure.
- Myocardial involvement in FIP is rare, and transient myocardial thickening has not been well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical assessment and management of a cat with transient myocardial thickening associated with FIP.
- To highlight the diagnostic challenges and therapeutic outcomes in such cases.
Main Methods:
- Case presentation of an 11-year-old Norwegian cat with FIP and suspected congestive heart failure.
- Utilized thoracic point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), serum protein electrophoresis, pleural effusion analysis (PCR, NT-proBNP), and echocardiography.
- Administered cardiac therapy and nucleoside analog GS-441524.
Main Results:
- Initial POCUS revealed pleural effusion; blood work and effusion analysis confirmed FIP.
- Echocardiography showed left ventricular wall thickening and left atrial enlargement, with elevated cardiac troponin I, indicating myocarditis/congestive heart failure.
- Following GS-441524 treatment, echocardiography demonstrated decreased ventricular wall thickness, with normalization of cardiac markers and variables at follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Feline infectious peritonitis can cause transient myocardial thickening, mimicking congestive heart failure.
- Nucleoside analog GS-441524 may be effective in treating FIP-related myocardial changes.
- Cardiac POCUS and NT-proBNP measurement in pleural effusion are crucial for diagnosing concurrent congestive heart failure in FIP cases.
