Cardiac hypertrophy in rats with phenylhydrazine anemia.

THIS investigation was undertaken for the purpose of studying the effect of anemia upon the hearts of rats, of determining whether cardiac hypertrophy occurs, and, if so, of studying the mechanism of hypertrophy. In spite of the widespread belief that cardiac hypertrophy does occur with anemia, Stembridge and Rigdon have indicated the lack of evidence to support many of the reported cases. Their report of only 1 acceptable heart hypertrophy in autopsies of 7 persons with sickle cell anemia emphasizes the paucity of authentic examples of cardiac hypertrophy due to anemia in man.