Desmin as a possible immunohistochemical marker for feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Desmin has been suggested as a possible histopathological marker for hypert rophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in humans. To test whether a similar pattern of desmin staining applies to HCM in cats, we conducted an immunohistochemica l study on myocardial samples from 13 cats (HCM 4, other cardiomyopathies ( OCM) 4, and control 5). The pattern of staining for desmin in HCM cats was not the same as that reported in humans, but was weaker than in OCM cats an d controls. This suggested that desmin may be a possible histochemical mark er fur feline HCM, but our data was insufficient to clearly confirm this.