Measurement of N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide in plasma of cats with and without cardiomyopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether plasma N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide (Nt-proANP) concentrations in cats with cardiomyopathy (CM) differ from values in healthy cats and evaluate whether plasma Nt-proANP concentrations can be used to discriminate cats with CM and congestive heart failure (CHF) from CM-affected cats without CHF.


METHODS
16 cats that had CM without CHF, 16 cats that had CM with CHF, and 11 healthy control cats.


METHODS
All cats underwent a physical examination, assessment of clinicopathologic variables (including plasma thyroxine concentration), thoracic radiography, and echocardiography. On the basis of findings, cats were assigned to 1 of 3 groups (control cats, cats with CM and CHF, and cats with CM without CHF). Venous blood samples were obtained from all 43 cats, and plasma Nt-proANP concentrations were measured by use of a human proANP(1-98) ELISA.


RESULTS
Plasma Nt-proANP concentrations differed significantly among the 3 groups. Median Nt-proANP concentration was 381 fmol/mL (range, 52 to 450 fmol/mL), 763 fmol/mL (range, 167 to 2,386 fmol/mL), and 2,443 fmol/mL (range, 1,189 to 15,462 fmol/mL) in the control group, in cats with CM without CHF, and in cats with CM and CHF, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurement of plasma Nt-proANP concentration could be of benefit in the assessment of cats with naturally occurring CM and might have potential as a screening marker for the disease. Furthermore, measurement of plasma NtproANP concentration may be useful for distinguishing cats with CM and CHF from those with CM and no CHF.
Zimmering
Tanja M
TM
Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany.
Meneses
Felix
F
Nolte
Ingo J
IJ
Simon
Daniela
D
D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002415:Cats; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000662:veterinary
C099254:N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide; D011498:Protein Precursors; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor