SYSTEMIC MANIFESTATIONS OF CONSTANT CARDIOGENEIC SYNDROME IN CATS: CLINICAL AND ANATOMICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive clinical and anatomical analysis and pathomorphological documentation of a case of chronic biventricular heart failure in a domestic cat, which developed as a result of primary cardiomyopathy. By the method of pathological autopsy and macromorphometry, a chain of changes from concentric hypertrophy of the left ventricular myocardium to total venous stasis in the small and large circles of blood circulation was recorded. Analyzing the anamnesis, clinical picture and results of the subsequent pathological autopsy, the most likely diagnosis is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. After all, most cats with HCM can have an asymptomatic course for a long time. Prolonged disruption of the blood supply to the myocardium of the thickened left ventricle leads to gradual damage and death of cardiomyocytes. A visit to the veterinary clinic and the performed manipulations became a trigger for starting a stress reaction, a sharp increase in the metabolic needs of the body, and heart failure did not allow the animal to cope with the increased load. Acute stress led to severe tachycardia, and further deterioration of diastolic function and acute left ventricular heart failure. The wall of the hypertrophied ventricle loses its physiological property of complete relaxation in the diastole stage, which leads to an increase in diastolic pressure in the left ventricle and left atrium. The above processes led to an increase in pressure in the pulmonary veins and capillaries and their expansion with the development of pulmonary edema and the formation of pleural effusion. Secondary pulmonary hypertension with double ectasia of the pulmonary trunk (8–10 mm), congestive muscat hepatomegaly, pronounced splenomegaly (15.5 cm) and congestive gastroenteropathy with pseudomelanosis were verified. It was established that the direct cause of death was acute alveolar pulmonary edema and terminal asphyxia.