Understanding Why Cats Respond Differently to Common Heart Medication

Studies indicate that between 6 and 17 percent of cats with cardiac diseases will develop potentially life-threatening blood clots. The drug clopidogrel, also known as Plavix, is frequently prescribed for cats with heart disease to help prevent and treat blood clot formation. However, individual cats may process clopidogrel differently, resulting in variations in drug efficacy. Researchers have identified genetic mutations that may be linked to this phenomenon and will evaluate their impact on drug response. The team also will document the frequency of clopidogrel resistance. Genetic testing could be used to predict clopidogrel efficacy in individual cats with heart disease and facilitate personalized medicine decisions to help improve outcomes for these patients.