Effect of amlodipine on echocardiographic variables in cats with systemic hypertension.

Left ventricular hypertrophy signals a poor prognosis in hypertensive humans. Cardiac disease is common in cats with systemic hypertension. The aims of this study were to characterize the echocardiographic findings of cats with systemic hypertension and to determine if reducing the degree of hypertension is associated with resolution of cardiac hypertrophy. Echocardiographic examinations were performed on 19 cats with naturally occurring systemic hypertension. Fourteen of these cats were subsequently studied after a minimum of 3 months of treatment with the antihypertensive agent amlodipine. Hypertensive cats had a significantly thicker interventricular septum in both systole and diastole, thicker left ventricular free wall in both systole and diastole, and larger left atrium compared to the published normal values and 74% (14/19) of the cats met criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy (diastolic septal or free-wall thickness > 0.60 cm). Systolic blood pressure was lower after treatment (217 +/- 25 mm Hg, range: 180-275 mm Hg; and 142 +/- 27 mm Hg, range: 90-200 mm Hg). No difference was found in any of the echocardiographic measurements between the untreated and treated cats, although more cats had ventricular hypertrophy before treatment (11/14) than after initiating amlodipine (6/14; P = .006). Ventricular hypertrophy is common in hypertensive cats and may resolve after the initiation of amlodipine.

Atypical Addison's disease in the dog: a retrospective survey of 14 cases.

Fourteen dogs diagnosed with Addison's disease and having atypical serum electrolyte levels are described. Seventy-eight percent were female, and most showed signs of inappetence, weakness, or vomiting. Ninety-three percent of the cases had either hyponatremia without hyperkalemia or normal serum electrolyte concentrations. Hemogram features were variable and were not useful in suggesting a diagnosis of hypoadrenocorticism. The results of this study show that normal or mild serum electrolyte changes in a dog with clinical signs compatible with Addison's disease should not exclude this diagnosis from consideration. Definitive diagnosis depends on the demonstration of inadequate adrenocortical response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation.