Journal watch24 June 2020
Author(s): V. Luis Fuentes, J. Abbott, V. Chetboul, E. Cote, P.R. Fox, J. Häggström, M.D. Kittleson, K. Schober and J.A. Stern
Published in: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Date: May 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15745
Type of access: Open access
(click for full article)
Our summary
Luis Fuentes V, et al. (2020) ACVIM consensus statement guidelines for the classification, diagnosis, and management of cardiomyopathies in cats. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 34 (3), pp. 1062-1077.
The aim of these consensus statement guidelines was to provide an updated classification of cardiomyopathies in cats based on echocardiographic phenotype and to provide recommendations for their diagnosis and management.
Members of the committee produced a series of statements on the most important issues related to cardiomyopathy in cats. A modified Delphi method was applied to these statements; a consensus was defined as more than six of the nine committee members agreeing with the statement. A literature review was carried out on PubMed, with all peer-reviewed studies containing original data reviewed and graded by the panel. For each statement that reached a consensus, a level of evidence (low/medium/high) was determined based on a review of the literature, and a class (strength) of recommendation was assigned (is recommended/should be considered/may be considered/is not recommended).
The guidelines outline a new classification scheme for cardiomyopathies in cats based on phenotype, which is adapted from the European Society of Cardiology classification system used in humans. A staging system for cardiomyopathy in cats (again adapted from systems used in humans) is also given, this provides a framework for prognostic and therapeutic decision-making.
Recommendations are given for the diagnosis and staging of cardiomyopathies and their management at each stage.
Limitations include the lack of clarity on the search strategy used to identify papers for inclusion and levels of evidence ascribed. The guidelines would also benefit from clearer signposting of the recommendations, perhaps as separate tables, as this would help orientate readers.
Take home
These evidence-based consensus guidelines provide practitioners with a good overview of published literature on feline cardiomyopathies and propose a system of staging which may provide a framework for prognostication and therapeutic decision making.
Next steps
Receive journal watch by email
