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Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in two cats
Author(s) -
Harvey A. M.,
Battersby I. A.,
Faena M.,
Fews D.,
Darke P. G. G.,
Ferasin L.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-5827.2005.tb00306.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , bigeminy , ventricle , ventricular tachycardia , cats , cardiomyopathy , dilated cardiomyopathy , heart failure , arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia , sudden death
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a disease characterised by infiltration of the myocardium by adipose and fibrous tissue. The disease is an important cause of sudden death in humans, but has rarely been described in animals. This report describes ARVC in two cats with right‐sided congestive heart failure. One cat had also experienced previous episodes of syncope. Standard six‐lead and 24‐hour (Holter) electrocardiogram recording revealed complete atrioventricular block and multiform ventricular ectopics in both cats, with the addition of ventricular tachycardia, ventricular bigeminy and R‐on‐T phenomenon in one of them. On echocardiography, the right ventricle and atrium were massively dilated and hypokinetic. The survival times of the cats were three days and 16 days following diagnosis. Histopathology in one case revealed fibro‐fatty infiltration of the myocardium, predominantly affecting the right ventricular free wall.