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.
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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.