Category:Endocardial Pathology
The endocardium is a smooth layer continuous with the lining of the blood vessels. The endocardium also provides the structure to the valve leaflets. Because of its close association with the blood, endocardium is particularly at risk of trauma and haematogenous infection.
Valvular disease is very rare in the cat, further discussion refers to canine disease.
Inflammatory-Endocarditis
Vascular Pathology
Haemorrhage
Seen as an incidental finding in horses and catte due to sudden death.
Atrial thrombosis
Atrial dilation or fibrillation on dogs and cats allows abnormal eddying and stasis of blood within the atria. Thrombosis may occur with subsequent embolisation of thrombus and lodging in smaller vessels. This particularly occurs in the cat where thrombi lodge in the femoral artery. The platelets within the thrombus release vasoactive amines which potentiate the hypoxia by constricting collateral circulation to the hindlimb. The cat will present with an acute hind limb paralysis with the limbs affected being cold to the touch and without a femoral pulse.
Embolism elsewhere is usually clinically silent.
Blood cysts
Haematoma formation within the AV-valve leaflets.
Proliferative Pathology
Haemangioendothelioma
Arise from the endothelial cells, usually of the right atrium and occasionally involving the right ventricle.
Often multiple with similar tumours in the spleen.
Chemodectoma
Tumour arising from the chemoreceptor cells of the aortic body. Usually benign although local enlargement causes clinical signs early on E.g. dyspnoea.
The heart is also a site of secondary neoplasia, particularly mammary and thyroid adenocarcinomas and haemangiosarcomas.
Pages in category "Endocardial Pathology"
The following 10 pages are in this category, out of 10 total.