Feline aortic thromboembolism with and without congestive heart failure did not exhibit hypercoagulability using a novel viscoelastic coagulation monitor.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate hypercoagulability with a benchtop viscoelastic monitor in cats with congestive heart failure (CHF) and/or aortic thromboembolism (ATE) compared to controls. METHODS: 97 cats were enrolled throughout this prospective observational cohort study from September 2022 through October 2023. Cats were grouped by diagnosis of CHF, ATE, ATE plus CHF, or controls. Enrollment required diagnosis of heart disease and no previous antithrombotic therapy. The results of viscoelastic testing with the benchtop viscoelastic coagulation monitor (VCM Vet [VCM]; Entegrion) were compared between groups using factorial analysis of variance. RESULTS: Cats with heart disease had significantly higher clot times when compared to controls (control mean, 285.3 [SD, 172.6]; CHF mean, 391.7 [SD, 106.8]; ATE mean, 415.9 [SD, 109.2]; and ATE plus CHF mean, 368.6 [SD, 232.6]). Heart disease cats were noted to have significantly lower 45-minute lysis index values (control median, 100 [range, 93 to 100]; CHF median, 99 [range, 89 to 100]; ATE median, 98 [range, 88 to 100]; and ATE plus CHF range, 98 [91 to 100]). Age was a covariate to this variable, and when applied to analysis, statistical significance was lost. No significant difference in any other variables were noted. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The hypercoagulability of ATE and CHF cats was not detected by the VCM. Further research with other coagulation monitors is required in this population.