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Many authors have tackled the HW/BW (heart weight to body weight) and (LV+S)/RV (left ventricle plus septum to right ventricle) ratios as potential indicators of cardiac abnormalities in pigs. However, a consensus regarding the normal ranges for these parameters has remained elusive, and there has been limited investigation into how these ratios change throughout the pig's lifespan.
The central objective of this final degree thesis was to meticulously establish the baseline HW/BW and (LV+S)/RV parameters in healthy pigs across various age groups. As a secondary aim, we sought to compute these parameters in a selected group of pigs affected with different diagnosed pathologies, subsequently comparing these values to the previously determined normal ranges. This comprehensive study encompassed a total of 267 pigs spanning different age categories.
After analysis of collected data, our findings suggest that this study has successfully delineated the normal parameters for HW/BW and (LV+S)/RV ratios within various age groups of porcine subjects. Notably, we observed a noticeable trend wherein the HW/BW ratio exhibited a gradual decline, while the (LV+S)/RV ratio experienced a progressive increase over the course of a pig's life.
However, it is pertinent to highlight that neither the HW/BW ratio nor the (LV+S)/RV one proved to be discriminative markers for specific pathologies, including cardiac disorders, within the scope of this investigation. Nonetheless, our findings indicate that diseased pigs tend to exhibit higher HW/BW ratios and reduced (LV+S)/RV values when compared to their healthy counterparts. Moreover, additional studies in this field are essential in the future to establish clear diagnostic parameters for cardiac abnormalities in pigs.
