title: Echocardiographic evidence for myocardial failure induced by taurine deficiency in domestic cats.
abstract: Dietary taurine-deficiency is a cause of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in cats. While the incidence of clinical cases of feline DCM has markedly decreased since the association between DCM and taurine-deficiency was first recognized, not all cats maintained on taurine-deficient diets develop DCM. The objective was to temporally evaluate left ventricular (LV) function using M-mode echocardiography in 23 cats maintained on a taurine-deficient diet; 20 time-matched, taurine-supplemented cats served as controls. The duration of feeding trials ranged from 6-15 months. No diminution of myocardial function was recorded in a small number of taurine-deficient cats whereas cardiac performance in some taurine-deficient cats diminished to levels characteristic of DCM. Of the taurine-deficient cats, 17 (74%) experienced a greater than 25% reduction in fractional shortening and 21 (91%) had a greater than 25% increase in LV end-systolic short-axis diameter. On average, LV end-systolic short-axis diameter increased by 70% and fractional shortening decreased by 37% in taurine-deficient cats. Mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening was similarly reduced in taurine-deficient cats. The greatest rate of change in M-mode echocardiographic variables occurred during the first four months on the taurine-deficient diet. Dietary taurine deficiency leads to a spectrum of changes in myocardial function in domestic cats. While DCM is observed in some cats, decreased systolic pump function and increased LV end-systolic short-axis diameter are more consistent findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Novotny
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hogan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Flannigan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases; D002415:Cats; D004032:Diet; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D013599:Systole; D013654:Taurine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D013654:Taurine