A quantitative study of cardiac ventricular mass in dogs

This study was undertaken to determine the correlations between heart weight, ventricular weight and body weight in adult dogs. A total of 130 dogs was selected for the study after necropsy and histological examination. The body weights (BW) were obtained and a standardized dissection technique was used to obtain the total heart weight (HW), total ventricular mass (VW), right ventricular mass (RvW) and the left ventricular plus the interventricular septum mass (Lv + SW). A strong and significant correlation was found between all variables (BW, HW, VW, Lv + SW and RvW). The following ratios were calculated: HW/BW, RvW/BW, Lv + SW/BW, RvW/VW, Lv + SW/VW, RvW/HW, Lv + SW/HW and Lv + SW/RvW. No sex effect was observed on any ratios. A straight linear relationship was observed between HW and Lv + SW or RvW and between Lv + SW and RvW. The ratios Lv + SW/HW, RvW/HW and Lv + SW/RvW could then be used to predict a normal value of Lv + SW or RvW from a known HW value, or a normal value of Lv + SW from a known RvW value. The relations between BW and HW, Lv + SW or RvW were best described by second order equations. Such equations should be utilized to predict a normal value of HW, Lv + SW or RvW from a known BW value.