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Baseline plasma norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) concentrations were measured in dogs with naturally acquired heart failure (HF) caused by either degenerative mitral valve disease and mitral regurgitation (MR) or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Compared with controls (clinically normal), dogs with HF had increased plasma NE concentration, which was correlated positively with clinical severity of HF. Dogs with the most severe degree of HF (New York Heart Association functional class IV) had mean NE concentration significantly (P less than 0.05) greater than that of dogs with all other functional classes of HF. Overall, mean NE concentration in dogs with DCM was greater than that in dogs with MR. Plasma EPI concentration was not different between control dogs and dogs with HF or between dogs with DCM or MR. Correlations were not found between the echocardiographically derived end systolic volume index (used as an estimate of myocardial function) and plasma NE and EPI concentrations or serum sodium or potassium concentration. Dogs with DCM, as a group, had a small but significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in serum sodium concentration, compared with dogs with MR. This difference was maintained only for class-IV HF when dogs were separated according to functional HF class. In dogs with DCM, significant inverse correlation was found between plasma NE and serum sodium concentrations. When grouped together, all dogs with HF maintained this relationship; however, dogs with MR did not have correlation between plasma NE and serum sodium concentrations. Plasma EPI and serum sodium concentrations were not correlated for any group. It was concluded that in dogs, plasma NE, but not EPI, concentration is high in relation to the clinical severity of naturally acquired HF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chylothorax associated with congestive cardiomypathy was diagnosed in a 10-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat via analysis of pleural fluid. The triglyceride concentration in the pleural fluid was high (579 mg/dl), compared with that in serum (87 mg/dl), and the fluid cleared with ether. Evidence of atrial and left ventricular enlargement was found via electrocardiography and thoracic radiography. Left-sided cardiac dilatation and reduced systolic motion of the left ventricle were revealed by echocardiography. The cat was treated with digoxin, furosemide, and aspirin. Two months after initiation of treatment, fluid (265 ml) was aspirated from the pleural cavity. Two months after this procedure, the cat was doing well, with minimal pleural fluid production.