Left ventricular hypertrophy in chronically hypertensive ponies.

The research article discusses a study that found a link between chronic hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy in ponies suffering from laminitis, a disease caused by overeating carbohydrates.

Introduction and Aim

• The researchers aimed to explore the relationship between systemic arterial hypertension and equine laminitis, a condition caused by the excessive consumption of carbohydrates in ponies. They focused their investigation on potential signs of left ventricular hypertrophy, a condition where the wall of the heart’s main pumping chamber thickens due to increased workload, in these hypertensive, laminitis ponies.

Methodology

• The team carried out their study postmortem on nine ponies that had chronic hypertension and laminitis and nine that were normotensive, or had normal blood pressure levels.
• The measurements of heart size and weight were taken, along with observations on the left ventricle, septum weight, and the free wall weight of the left and right ventricles.

Results

• The data revealed that the hearts of the hypertensive ponies were significantly larger than the normotensive ones. This was determined by comparing the heart weight in relation to the pony’s bodyweight (g/kg BW).
• Notably, the combined left ventricle and septum weight, as well as the left ventricular free wall weight, were also greatly increased in the hypertensive ponies.
• However, there was no significant difference found in the right ventricular free wall weights between the two groups.
• The thickness of the left ventricular free wall was significantly higher in the hypertensive ponies, indicating a higher degree of left ventricular hypertrophy in this group. The thickness of the septal wall and right ventricular free wall did not show any significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusion

• The study concludes that left ventricular hypertrophy, a condition typically related to hypertension in humans, also accompanies equine laminitis-induced hypertension. This observation might be significant for future medical care of ponies suffering from laminitis and systemic arterial hypertension.