EXPRESS: MYOCARDIAL INJURY IN CATS WITH ACUTE BLUNT TRAUMA: PREVALENCE AND PROGNOSTIC IMPLICATIONS.

Elevated hs-cTnI is highly prevalent in feline blunt trauma and reflects multifactorial systemic injury severity.

This prospective cohort study investigated the prevalence and prognostic significance of elevated high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) in 39 cats presenting within 48 hours of acute blunt trauma. A remarkably high prevalence of elevated hs-cTnI was identified (87%; 95% CI 72–96%), suggesting myocardial injury or stress is common following blunt trauma in cats. A significant ordinal association was found between trauma severity (Animal Trauma Triage score) and hs-cTnI class. Elevated hs-cTnI correlated positively with markers of renal dysfunction (urea, creatinine), systemic inflammation (neutrophil count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio), hepatocellular injury (ALT), hyperglycemia, and echocardiographic indices of increased left ventricular wall thickness (IVSd, LVPWd), while correlating negatively with LV internal diameter. Increased left ventricular wall thickness was identified in 10/39 cats and was associated with higher hs-cTnI concentrations. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were present in 6/39 cats but did not correlate with hs-cTnI levels. Mortality rate was 18% (7/39 cats), with non-survival associated with elevated urea, white blood cell count, and neutrophil count, but not independently with hs-cTnI. The authors conclude that elevated hs-cTnI in feline blunt trauma likely reflects a multifactorial response encompassing myocardial stress, systemic disease severity, altered renal clearance, and possible subclinical cardiac disease. Larger studies are needed to define hs-cTnI's independent prognostic value in this population.

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