title: Quantitative assessment of velocities of the annulus of the left atrioventricular valve and left ventricular free wall in healthy cats by use of two-dimensional color tissue Doppler imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze velocities of the annulus of the left atrioventricular valve and left ventricular free wall (LVFW) in a large population of healthy cats by use of 2-dimensional color tissue Doppler imaging (TDI).
  
  
  METHODS
  100 healthy cats (0.3 to 12.0 years old; weighing 1.0 to 8.0 kg) of 6 breeds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Radial myocardial velocities were recorded in an endocardial and epicardial segment, and longitudinal velocities were recorded in 2 LVFW segments (basal and apical) and in the annulus of the left atrioventricular valve.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LVFW velocities were significantly higher in the endocardial than epicardial layers and significantly higher in the basal than apical segments. For systole, early diastole, and late diastole, mean +/- SD radial myocardial velocity gradient (MVG), which was defined as the difference between endocardial and epicardial velocities, was 2.2 +/- 0.7, 3.3 +/- 1.3, and 1.8 +/- 0.7 cm/s, respectively, and longitudinal MVG, which was defined as the difference between basal and apical velocities, was 2.7 +/- 0.8, 3.1 +/- 1.4, and 2.1 +/- 0.9 cm/s, respectively. A breed effect was documented for several TDI variables; therefore, reference intervals for the TDI variables were determined for the 2 predominant breeds represented (Maine Coon and domestic shorthair cats).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LVFW velocities in healthy cats decrease from the endocardium to the epicardium and from the base to apex, thus defining radial and longitudinal MVG. These indices could complement conventional analysis of left ventricular function and contribute to the early accurate detection of cardiomyopathy in cats.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit of Alfort, National Veterinary School of Alfort, 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704 Maisons-Alfort cedex, France.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chetboul
authors.forename: Carolina Carlos
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Sampedrano
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tissier
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gouni
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Saponaro
authors.forename: Audrey P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Nicolle
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pouchelon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology*; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*