Open AccessCardiac Biomarkers in Hyperthyroid Cats
Author(s) -
Sangster J.K.,
Panciera D.L.,
Abbott J.A.,
Zimmerman K.C.,
Lantis A.C.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/jvim.12259
Subject(s) - cats , medicine , euthyroid , subclinical infection , hypertrophic cardiomyopathy , cardiology , biomarker , troponin i , left ventricular hypertrophy , endocrinology , blood pressure , myocardial infarction , thyroid , biochemistry , chemistry
Background Hyperthyroidism has substantial effects on the circulatory system. The cardiac biomarkers NT ‐pro BNP and troponin I (c TNI ) have proven useful in identifying cats with myocardial disease but have not been extensively investigated in hyperthyroidism. Hypothesis Plasma NT ‐pro BNP and c TNI concentrations are higher in cats with primary myocardial disease than in cats with hyperthyroidism and higher in cats with hyperthyroidism than in healthy control cats. Animals Twenty‐three hyperthyroid cats, 17 cats with subclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy ( HCM ), and 19 euthyroid, normotensive healthy cats ≥8 years of age. Fourteen of the hyperthyroid cats were re‐evaluated 3 months after administration of radioiodine ( 131 I). Methods Complete history, physical examination, complete blood count, serum biochemistries, urinalysis, blood pressure measurement, serum T4 concentration, plasma concentrations of NT ‐pro BNP and c TNI , and echocardiogram were obtained prospectively from each cat. Results Hyperthyroid cats and cats with HCM had plasma NT ‐pro BNP and c TNI concentrations that were significantly higher than those of healthy cats, but there was no significant difference between hyperthyroid cats and cats with HCM with respect to the concentration of either biomarker. In hyperthyroid cats that were re‐evaluated 3 months after 131 I treatment, plasma NT ‐pro BNP and c TNI concentrations as well as ventricular wall thickness had decreased significantly. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Although there may be a role for NT ‐pro BNP in monitoring the cardiac response to treatment of hyperthyroidism, neither NT ‐pro BNP nor c TNI distinguish hypertrophy associated with hyperthyroidism from primary HCM . Therefore, the thyroid status of older cats should be ascertained before interpreting NT ‐pro BNP and c TNI concentrations.