Researcher tests therapy for arterial thromboembolism

FORT COLLINS, COLO. — Dr. Janice Bright, a cardiologist at Colorado State University (CSU) is conducting ongoing research on feline arterial thromboembolism (ATE), using anti-platelet drugs called GP Iib/IIIa blocking agents.

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Current ATE treatments include blood-thinning medications that do not work consistently in cats. Because the disease does not show age or breed preference, cats can be affected or die with few symptoms.

"We are currently working with research cats, but the next step is to take this treatment to the clinical-trial phase," Bright says.

The drugs are used in human medicine and are working in cats, however, the effective dose varied among cats in preliminary trials.

Bedside platelet-function analyzers, also used in human medicine, are being used to determine the optimal dose of anti-platelet-blocking agents for individual cats.

"There is little that can be done for cats that suffer from this disease now," Bright says. "We hope this research can help change the cats' medical outlook after an ATE diagnosis."

Once research is completed, Bright hopes cats that suffer from the artery-clogging disease can live longer and have a better quality of life.

The research is being sponsored by Morris Animal Foundation, The George Sydney & Phyllis Redmond Miller Trust at the San Francisco Foundation.