Reversible Congestive Left Sided Heart Failure in a Cat

A 12 year old male neutered domestic shorthaired was referred for echocardiography. The presenting complaint was acute onset of dyspnoea without a stert or of three days duration. The referring veterinarian detected a gallop and suspected heart failure. Physical examination findings consisted of the following: dyspnoea, tachypnea, heart rate was 210 bpm, harsh respiratory sounds over all lung fields and a gallop. Thoracic radiographs were made to determine the cause of dyspnoea. Thoracic radiography showed mild cardiomegaly and generalized interstitial and alveolar infiltrates, possibly related to congestive left sided heart failure. Echocardiography showed concentric left ventricular hypertrophy and left atrial enlargement.

Clinical and radiographic abnormalities were hypothesised to be the result of congestive left sided heart failure. The primary heart disease could be primary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or secondary to systemic arterial hypertension, hyperthyroidism and others.

Treatment with furosemide was started. Three days later dyspnoea had resolved. Indirect blood pressure measurement revealed a systolic blood pressure of 210 mm Hg. Plasma T4, urea, creatinine were within the reference range. […]