Importance of B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Analysis and Hemogram Evaluation in Cats wıth Pericardial Effusion Detected on Echocardiography

This study aimed to measure plasma NT-proBNP levels and hemogram parameters in 20 cats diagnosed with pericardial effusion by echocardiographic examination and to determine whether NT-proBNP could be used as a cardiac biomarker in the confirmation of pericardial effusion.The study was conducted on 40 cats, consisting of a patient group of 20 cats of different ages, breeds and genders diagnosed with pericardial effusion by echocardiographic examination at the Cat Hospital Animal Hospital, and a control group of 20 healthy cats in terms of heart diseases. Blood samples were taken from the patient group and the control group cats for total blood count and NT-proBNP analysis. NT-proBNP values were determined from the prepared serum samples using the Vcheck200 – BIONOTE device. Total blood count was performed using the IDEXX ProCyte Dx TM Hematology Analyzer. After pericardial effusion was detected in echocardiography examination, M-mode measurement parameters such as left ventricular free wall thickness (LVPW) in systole and diastole, interventricular septum wall thickness (IVSD) in systole and diastole, end-diastole and end-systole left ventricular internal diameter (LVID), left atrium internal diameter (LA), aortic diameter (AO), LA/AO ratio, left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), and fractional shortening (FS) were evaluated.In conclusion, in the statistical analysis of the data obtained in this study, while no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in total blood count, it was determined that NT-proBNP increased significantly in cats with pericardial effusion. Therefore, it was concluded that NT-proBNP can be used as a cardiac biomarker in the diagnosis of pericardial effusion in cats.