Abstract
Background
Maine coon cats have a familial disposition for developing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with evidence of an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance
The objective of the study trikes was to determine the prevalence of echocardigraphic changes consistent with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Swedish Maine coon cats, and to compare echocardiographic measurements with previously published reference values.
Methods
All cats over the age of 8 months owned by breeders living in Stockholm, listed on the website of the Maine Coon breeders in Sweden by February 2001, were invited to participate in the study.Physical examination and M-mode and 2D echocardiographic examinations were performed in all cats.
Results
Examinations of 42 asymptomatic Maine coon cats (10 males and 32 females) were performed.The age of the cats ranged from 0,7 to 9,3 years with a mean of 4,8 ± 2,3 years.Four cats (9,5%) had a diastolic interventricular septal (IVSd) or left ventricular free wall (LVPWd) thickness exceeding 6,0 mm.
In 3 of these cats the hypertrophy was segmental.Two cats (4,8%) had systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve without concomitant hypertrophy.Five cats (11,9%) had IVSd or LVPWd exceeding 5,0 mm but less than 6,0 mm.
Conclusion
Depending on the reference values used, the prevalence of HCM in this study varied from 9,5% to 26,2%.Our study suggests that the left ventricular wall thickness of a click here normal cat is 5,0 mm or less, rather than 6,0 mm, previously used by most cardiologists.Appropriate echocardiographic reference values for Maine coon cats, and diagnostic criteria for HCM need to be further investigated.