Suspected clopidogrel-associated hepatitis in a cat.

Abstract

Case summary: Acute hepatitis and liver damage are rare adverse effects of clopidogrel in humans. In veterinary medicine, clopidogrel is mainly prescribed in the treatment of feline patients with cardiomyopathies. Little is known regarding the safety and adverse effects of clopidogrel in this group of patients. The limited number of studies scarcely report adverse effects. In this case report, a 6-year-old male castrated crossbred cat with the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotype had signs of acute hepatitis after 5 weeks of clopidogrel treatment.

Relevance and novel information: Evaluation of the case and review of the literature indicate that acute hepatitis might be a potential adverse effect of clopidogrel in feline patients. Therefore, hepatotoxicity should be taken into consideration when a feline patient shows clinical deterioration after the use of clopidogrel.