Studying Clots Associated with Heart Disease

About 20% of cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common heart disease in cats, develop clinical signs associated with the disease. Of these complications, the most devastating is cardiogenic arterial thromboembolism (clot formation), otherwise known as, saddle thrombus, one of the most distressing emergencies for cat owners. Cats with saddle thrombus develop a sudden onset of weakness and inability to use their rear legs. Researchers will look for the underlying reason why clots form in HCM cats by creating a model that mirrors the blood environment seen in these patients. By learning how blood cells, including platelets and neutrophils, interact to generate clots, researchers hope to identify proteins responsible for these interactions.This new information will help inform the development of potential therapies for this devastating disease in cats.