Echocardiographic, morphometric and biomarker changes in female cats followed from 6 to 24 months of life

van Hoek, IMJ; Laxalde, J; Connolly, DJ; Rush, JE; Freeman, LM

Abstract

Objectives
The aim of the study was to evaluate cardiac size and early growth through echocardiographic, bodyweight (BW), body condition score (BCS), morphometric and biomarker changes in cats followed from 6 to 24 months of age.

Methods
Twenty-four female European shorthair colony cats were evaluated at birth for BW and at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age for BW, BCS, head length (HL) and head width (HW), N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and echocardiographic measurements.

Results
BCS, HW, left ventricular free wall in diastole, left atrium diameter and aortic diameter increased significantly between 6 and 12 months, while BW, HL and interventricular septum in diastole increased significantly between 6, 12 and 18 months, and BW decreased significantly between 18 and 24 months. NT-proBNP decreased significantly between 6 and 12 months. IGF-1 increased significantly between 6 and 12 months but decreased significantly between 12 and 18 months.

Conclusions and relevance
This study prospectively evaluated changes in echocardiographic measurements, BW, BCS, HL, HW, IGF-1 and NT-proBNP in cats during the first 2 years of life. Results show a comparable change over time for different variables. These findings contribute to the understanding of a possible relationship between cardiac measures and body size from young age through to adulthood.

Citation

van Hoek, I., Laxalde, J., Connolly, D., Rush, J., & Freeman, L. (2020). Echocardiographic, morphometric and biomarker changes in female cats followed from 6 to 24 months of life. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 1098612X2094368. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X20943684

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 27, 2020
• Publication Date: Jul 28, 2020
• Deposit Date: Aug 17, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 20, 2020
• Journal: Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
• Print ISSN: 1098-612X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 1098612X2094368
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X20943684
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1376596
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X20943684