Human, Bovine and Porcine Systematic Vascular Input Impedances Are Not Equivalent: Implications for Device Testing and Xenotransplantation in Heart Failure

ZART is significantly lower in calves and pigs than in humans with or without HF. This finding has important implications for the pre-clinical testing of MCS devices and xenotransplants, which are usually examined in bovine and porcine models, respectively. Specifically, these therapies may respond differently in humans than animals due to non-equivalence of systemic after-load.