Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Spontaneous Large Animal Model of Human HCM

Abstract

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common disease in pet cats, affecting 10-15% of the pet cat population. The similarity to human HCM, the rapid progression of disease, and the defined and readily determined endpoints of feline HCM make it an excellent natural model that is genotypically and phenotypically similar to human HCM. The Maine Coon and Ragdoll cats are particularly valuable models of HCM because of myosin binding protein-C mutations and even higher disease incidence compared to the overall feline population. The cat overcomes many of the limitations of rodent HCM models, and can provide enhanced translation of information from in vitro and induced small animal models to human clinical trials. Physicians and veterinarians working together in a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach can accelerate the discovery of more effective treatments for this and other cardiovascular diseases affecting human and veterinary patients.

Keywords: Arterial thromboembolism; Cats; Congestive heart failure; Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; Natural animal model.

Figure 1

A right parasternal echocardiogram with color flow Doppler from a 7-year-old cat with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Mitral regurgitation and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction secondary to systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve are seen. This patient has significant left ventricular hypertrophy of the interventricular septum and free wall.

Figure 2

A gross pathology specimen from a 5-year-old cat with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The heart is shown in a transverse plane at the level of the papillary muscles in the left ventricle. Severe concentric left ventricular hypertrophy is evident with dramatic reduction in the size of the left ventricular lumen.