Prognostic value of mitral annular systolic plane excursion and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has a variable prognosis; left atrial size, presence of clinical signs and left ventricular systolic function have been shown to predict outcomes. Mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) assess longitudinal ventricular systolic function and are decreased in cats with HCM. The aim of the study was to ascertain whether MAPSE and TAPSE have prognostic value in HCM and if cats with pleural effusion have lower MAPSE and TAPSE than cats with pulmonary oedema

Pregnancy Effect on Echocardiographic Parameters in Great Dane Bitches

Pregnancy is associated with adaptation of the left ventricular (LV) function. Due to differences between breeds in baseline echocardiographic values and specific predispositions for myocardial diseases, breed-specific echocardiographic parameters may be helpful to evaluate whether the systolic function varies during pregnancy. This study enrolled nine healthy Great Dane bitches with uncomplicated pregnancy. Echocardiographic M-mode and B-mode data were collected before ovulation and within 7 days of the predicted parturition term. Evaluated parameters were: LV dimension in diastole (LVd) and systole (LVs), end-diastolic (EDVI) and end-systolic (ESVI) volumes indexed to body surface area (BSA), end-diastolic (EDV) and end-systolic (ESV), end-point-septal-separation (EPSS), left atrium to aortic root ratio (LA/Ao), sphericity index (SI), ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR), and cardiac output (CO). The ANOVA showed a statistical effect of the age of gestation (p < 0.01) on the increase of diastolic dimensions and functional parameters and on the decrease of systolic dimensions. The CO increase parallels the rise in SV and HR (p < 0.01). No statistical differences were observed for EPSS, LA/Ao, and SI. The changes in cardiac chambers and function are likely to reflect maternal adaptation to allow the fetal development in uncomplicated pregnancy. The present study provides specific echocardiographic values in uncomplicated pregnancy of Great Danes, showing that the systolic function is enhanced and that the increase in preload, observed during gestation, is the likely mechanism

Aortic annular plane systolic excursion in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Publication status: PublishedAbstractBackgroundImpairment of left ventricular (LV) longitudinal function is an early marker of systolic dysfunction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Aortic annular plane systolic excursion (AAPSE) is a measure of LV longitudinal function in people that has not been evaluated in cats.HypothesisAortic annular plane systolic excursion is lower in cats with HCM compared to control cats, and cats in stage C have the lowest AAPSE.AnimalsOne hundred seventy‐five cats: 60 normal, 61 HCM stage B and 54 HCM stage C cats.MaterialsMulticenter retrospective case‐control study. Electronic medical records from 4 referral hospitals were reviewed for cats diagnosed with HCM and normal cats. HCM was defined as LV wall thickness ≥6 mm and normal cats ≤5 mm. M‐mode bisecting the aorta in right parasternal short‐axis view was used to measure AAPSE.ResultsAortic annular plane systolic excursion was lower in HCM cats compared to normal cats (3.9 ± 0.9 mm versus 4.6 ± 0.9 mm, P &lt; .001) and was lowest in HCM stage C (2.4 ± 0.6 mm, P &lt; .001). An AAPSE &lt;2.9 mm gave a sensitivity of 83% (95% CI 71%‐91%) and specificity of 92% (95% CI 82%‐97%) to differentiate HCM stage C from stage B. AAPSE correlated with mitral annular plane systolic excursion (r = .6 [.4‐.7], P &lt; .001), and atrial fractional shortening (r = .6 [.5‐.7], P &lt; .001), but showed no correlation with LV fractional shortening.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceAortic annular plane systolic excursion is an easily acquired echocardiographic variable and might be a new measurement of LV systolic performance in cats with HCM.</jats:sec

Aortic annular plane systolic excursion in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background: Impairment of left ventricular (LV) longitudinal function is an early marker of systolic dysfunction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Longitudinal function can be assessed using mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) and strain; however, these require left apical views that can be challenging to acquire in cats. Aortic annular plane systolic excursion (AAPSE), obtained from a right parasternal short-axis view (RPSA), is a measure of LV longitudinal function that correlates with MAPSE and strain in people. Hypothesis: AAPSE is lower in cats with HCM compared to control cats, and cats in stage C have the lowest AAPSE. Animals: One-hundred and seventy-five cats: 60 normal, 61 HCM stage B and 54 HCM stage C cats. Materials: Multicenter retrospective study. HCM was defined as LV wall thickness ≥6 mm. M-mode bisecting the aorta in RPSA was used to measure AAPSE. Results: AAPSE was lower in HCM cats compared to normal cats and was lowest in HCM stage C. An AAPSE <2.9 mm gave a sensitivity of 83% (95% CI 71% - 91%) and specificity of 92% (95% CI 82% - 97%) to differentiate HCM stage C from stage B. AAPSE correlated with measures of LV longitudinal function, and atrial function, but showed no correlation with LV fractional shortening. AAPSE showed excellent intra- and inter-observer reliability. Conclusions and clinical importance: AAPSE is an easily acquired echocardiographic variable that was reduced in HCM and was lowest in stage C. This might be a new measurement of LV systolic performance in cats with HCM