Reversible pulmonary hypertension in a cat

A 13-year-old, neutered female domestic shorthair cat was presented for sudden respiratory distress following palliative radiotherapy and the combined administration of a single dose of carboplatin for the treatment of recurrent fibrosarcoma. Clinical and radiographic findings were suggestive of pleural effusion. Echocardiography revealed marked right-sided cardiac enlargement associated with tricuspid regurgitation and Doppler evidence of pulmonary hypertension. After 25 days of treatment for congestive heart failure and suspected pulmonary thromboembolism, clinical signs and echocardiographic and Doppler evidence of right-sided cardiac enlargement and pulmonary hypertension had completely resolved. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of reversible pulmonary hypertension, likely secondary to pulmonary thromboembolism, in a cat. © 2011 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.