Excessive Moderator Band in a Female Cat’s Left Ventricle

Abstract

This report describes a case of cardiomyopathy associated with excessive moderator bands in a 7 years old cat. In the cat echocardiography examination was observed cardiomegaly, decreased systolic function and thinning of the left ventricle wall. The electrocardiogram showed the occurrence of supraventricular tachycardia. The treatment was initiated with digoxin, furosemide and taurine supplementation, with an improvement of the clinical signs, however the animal died in a fall. The diagnosis of cardiomyopathy associated with excessive moderator band, was based on the multiple cardiac bunds which connect the septum to the free wall of the left ventricle observed in the cat necropsy.

Congestive heart failure in a young cat with excessive moderator bands (false tendons) in the left ventricle

“…In the present case, it was observed a marked proliferation of fibrous connective tissue, which were highlighted by the MT stain, intermixed with occasional Purkinje cells and multiple welldifferentiated cardiomyocytes lined by a single layer of endothelium, similarly to previous studies. Although, previous studies have identified inflammatory and necrotic lesions within excessive moderator bands in cats with congestive cardiac failure (WREY et al, 2007;CAVALCANTI et al, 2018), the present case did not present any of these lesions probably due to the age of the cat.…”

“…Excessive moderator bands have been previously associated with heart failure and death in cats. Although, considered a congenital disease, clinical signs are usually observed in senile cats (FERASIN et al, 2003;WRAY et al, 2007;ROBINSON & ROBINSON, 2016;CAVALCANTI et al, 2018), while in this study the condition was diagnosed in a 45 days-old cat. Clinically, the condition is usually characterized by lethargy, anorexia and restrictive dyspnoea in a variable clinical course, in addition to abdominal breathing pattern and muffled sounds at cardiac auscultation (FERASIN et al, 2003;WRAY et al, 2007;CAVALCANTI et al, 2018), similarly to the present study, in which the cat had inappetence and dyspnoea since birth.…”

“…In cats, the left ventricular false tendons are referred to as excessive moderator bands and have been reportedly associated with heart failure and death (LIU et al, 1982). Although, it is considered a congenital defect in cats, clinical disease is a rare condition of adult cats characterized by left heart failure disease (ROBINSON & ROBINSON, 2016), with a decreased diastolic capacity and electrical conduction disorders (CAVALCANTI et al, 2018). This study described the pathological findings of a fatal case of congestive heart failure in a 45 daysold mixed breed cat with excessive moderator bands (false tendons) in the left ventricle.…”