Cardiac dimensions in severely anemic neonatal pigs

The effects of chronic severe anemia on weights and chamber volumes of hearts were studied in 9 spontaneously anemic neonatal pigs (mean hematocrit = 10.1%) and 10 healthy piglets (mean hematocrit = 28.3%) of approximately the same age and similar body weights. All cardiac chamber weights, as well as total heart weight/body weight ratios, were significantly higher in the anemic pigs than in the healthy pigs (P less than 0.001). The left ventricular free wall/right ventricular free wall weight ratio was identical in the 2 groups. Calculated left ventricular volume/body weight ratio also was significantly greater in the anemic pigs (P less than 0.05). It is concluded that cardiac dilatation and hypertrophy occur consistently in chronically anemic neonatal pigs. These changes are independent of age or body weight of the animal.