THE USE OF ENALAPRIL IN THE TREATMENT OF FELINE HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY

The clinical response to enalapril in 19 cats with hypertrophic cardio myopathy (HCM) was evaluated retrospectively Eleven cats were in conge stive heart failure (CHF) at the time enalapril was prescribed, while only one cat was in CHF when the cats were reexamined three-to-six mon ths later Significant changes in cardiac dimensions were identified ec hocardiographically. No adverse effects on blood pressure, serum creat inine, or potassium were noted Although the preliminary data suggests that enalapril is well tolerated and may contribute to some improvemen ts in cats with HCM, controlled prospective studies are needed to prov e the efficacy of enalapril in this disease.