Evaluation of cardiac biomarkers in cats with diaphragmatic hernia

This study was conducted to evaluate the concentrations of cardiac biomarkers (NT-proBNP, Troponin I, Troponin T, and H-FABP) in cats with diaphragmatic hernia to investigate their diagnostic significance. The study included 11 cats diagnosed radiographically with diaphragmatic hernia, admitted to the Internal Medicine Clinic of Balıkesir University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and private veterinary clinics, as well as 9 clinically healthy cats without any signs of systemic or cardiac disease. The anamnesis, clinical examination, and radiological findings of all cases were recorded, and cardiac biomarker concentrations were determined using feline-specific commercial kits with a hormone analyzer and the ELISA method. In most cats with diaphragmatic hernia, trauma due to falling from a height was identified as the underlying cause; tachypnea, dyspnea, and tachycardia were observed as prominent clinical findings. The respiratory rate was significantly higher in the patient group compared to the control group (p<0.001). While NT-proBNP and cTnI concentrations mostly remained within the reference range, cTnT and H-FABP concentrations were found to be significantly elevated in the patient group (p<0.001). In conclusion, cTnT and H-FABP may serve as useful biomarkers for evaluating cardiac injury in feline cases of diaphragmatic hernia.