Plasma taurine concentrations and M-mode echocardiographic measures in healthy cats and in cats with dilated cardiomyopathy.
M-mode echocardiography was completed and plasma taurine concentrations were determined in 79 healthy cats and 77 cats with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). In healthy cats, a relationship was not observed between plasma taurine concentrations and any M-mode echocardiographic measurement. End-systolic and end-diastolic cardiac chamber dimensions were larger; wall thickness measures were smaller; and calculations of fractional shortening were less in cats with DCM than in healthy cats. Plasma taurine concentrations less than 30 nmol/mL were detected in 7/79 healthy cats and in 52/77 cats with DCM. Of the 52 cats with DCM and an initial plasma taurine concentration less than 30 nmol/mL, 23 died or were euthanized during the first post-treatment week, 7 were lost to further study, and 22 improved after taurine supplementation. Of the 25 cats with DCM and an initial plasma taurine concentration greater than or equal to 30 nmol/mL, 9 died or were euthanatized during the first post-treatment week, and 9 were lost to further study. Two cats did not improve, of which one died and one was euthanatized 4 to 8 weeks after initiation of taurine supplementation. Five cats with a plasma taurine concentration greater than or equal to 30 nmol/mL improved after taurine supplementation. Myocardial function subsequently deteriorated in three of these cats. Two of the three cats had signs of congestive heart failure redevelop.
Sisson
D D
DD
Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Urbana 61801.
Knight
D H
DH
Helinski
C
C
Fox
P R
PR
Bond
B R
BR
Harpster
N K
NK
Moise
N S
NS
Kaplan
P M
PM
Bonagura
J D
JD
Czarnecki
G
G
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002415:Cats; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013654:Taurine / Q000097:blood*
D013654:Taurine