Disorder - Supravalvular aortic stenosis

Organ Systems Involved
Cardiovascular

Alternative disorders described within LIDA

Cardiomyopathy; Cardiomyopathy, dilated; Cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic ; Heart defect, congenital; Subaortic stenosis; Aortic stenosis, subvalvular

Presenting Signs

Aortic stenosis refers to a narrowing of the aorta, which is the major blood vessel carrying oxygenated blood out of the heart to the rest of the body. In supravalvular aortic stenosis the narrowing is located above the aortic valve. The narrowing is caused by a fibrous ring that deforms the aorta into the shape of an hourglass and is linked to a malformation of the aortic valve.

Supravalvular aortic stenosis is a congenital condition, meaning that cats are born with the abnormality. Cats with aortic stenosis have an enlarged left side of the heart, due to the heart pumping harder to push the blood through the narrowed aorta. Affected cats develop heart failure at a young age. This causes symptoms such as weakness, exercise-intolerance and difficulty breathing. Heart failure is fatal.

Cats at Risk

Characteristics within a breed that predispose to supravalvular aortic stenosis have not been identified.

Breeds Affected
Siamese


Treatment

Medical: therapies such as diuretics and drugs that increase the strength of heart contractions can be used to treat the heart failure, but long-term survival is unlikely.

PubMed References
Supravalvular aortic stenosis

Contributor
Adrian Anderson