Veterinarians at the University of California, Davis have found that a cat’s DNA alters how it responds to a lifesaving medication used to treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart disease that affects one in seven cats. A simple genetic test led to an actionable discovery.
This study was about figuring out why some cats weren’t responding as expected to clopidogrel therapy and leading us towards a more effective prescription.” – Joshua Stern, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Cardiology)
Source: University of California, Davis, July 6, 2021. Link. Stern shared, “The end result is the ability to use a simple genetic test to make an educated decision about which drug therapy may be best for preventing blood clots in cats with HCM.”
Also see: Nature Portfolio Journal, Scientific Reports, June 15, 2021. Link. This study demonstrated that a genetic polymorphism in the P2RY1 gene altered response to clopidogrel therapy and suggests that clinicians may consider alternative or additional thromboprophylactic therapy in cats with the P2RY1:A236G variant.
NOTE: This study was supported by the Morris Animal Foundation.