Norwegian Forest Cat HCM DNA Research Project

**this study has been completed**

WSU Offers Funded Study of Feline Heart Disease!

December 6, 2007

We are very pleased to announce a new study at Washington State University for feline heart disease that is funded by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology). We are currently looking for feline participants diagnosed with heart disease who would be able to come to Washington State University for one evaluation. The entire evaluation will be paid for!
 

Our cardiology resident, Dr. Sara Bordelon, is directing the study and she can be contacted at sbordelon@vetmed.wsu.edu. Our cardiology technician, Aubrey Christiano, may also be contacted by phone 509-335-3265.

 

Thank you very much and Happy Holidays!

Kate Meurs

___________________________________________________________

WSU OFFERS FUNDED STUDY OF FELINE HEART DISEASE

 
The formation of a blood clot is a devastating complication of heart disease in cats. At this time there is no method to predict cats at risk for developing blood clots and then to determine the best time to initiate preventive medications. We propose that platelet factor 4, soluble P-selectin and 11-deydro-thromboxane B2, markers of endothelial and platelet activation, can be used to predict cats at risk for development of blood clots. Our goal in this study is to evaluate cats with heart disease and to determine if a difference in the level of these values exists from normal cats for these markers. This study is funded by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology).

 

Eligibility requirement:

• Cats must have structural cardiac disease (hypertrophic, restrictive or dilated cardiomyopathies) that can be detected via echocardiography. 

• Cats must NOT be on anticoagulant therapy at the time of enrollment (a 2 week anticoagulant free period is required for enrollment for cats previously treated with anticoagulants)

• Cats must be free of systemic disease (neoplasia, asthma, hyperthyroidism, etc)

• Cats greater then 16 years are not eligible for enrollment.

• Cats with previous thromboembolic events may be enrolled if not currently on an anti-coagulant (must be anticoagulant free for 2 weeks prior to enrollment)

• Cats must be able to be handled with manual restraint only – cats that are too fractious for manual restraint are not eligible.

• Cats will receive the following diagnostics as part of the study at no charge to the client if the cat meets all of the eligibility requirements (see above):           

  • Echocardiogram

  • ECG

  • Doppler blood pressure

  • Cardiovascular physical exam

  • Complete blood count

  • Chemistry panel

  • Free T4 (thyroid function test)

  • Urinalysis

  • Urine creatinine level

    
All of the aforementioned tests will be available to the owner and will be faxed to the referring veterinarian as part of the patient’s medical record.  All experimental data will be excluded from review by the owner and referring veterinarian as their clinical significance is not yet known.   

All owners will be required to sign a consent form prior to enrollment. If echocardiography does not reveal cardiac disease then no further testing will be performed but the owner will NOT be charged the echocardiogram fee.     

There is no time limit for the study; cats may be enrolled until we have reached the number of funded patients.  

For more information, please email Dr. Sara Bordelon (Sbordelon@vetmed.wsu.edu) or call to speak with Miss Aubrey Christiano at 509-335-3265
 

Back to DNA Research Page

home