[Reference values for the echocardiographic calculation of left ventricular mass in normal children between the ages of 0 and 6].
BACKGROUND
Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular mass (LVM) and mass/volume ratio (LVM/V) is an accurate method for evaluating left ventricular hypertrophy. However, reference values for LVM and left ventricular volume (V) in children under 6 years of age have not been well established.


METHODS
Therefore, we evaluated 106 consecutive children (60 males, 46 females, mean age +/- SD 35 +/- 28 months, range 0-72) free of cardiovascular disease by clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic examination. LVM and V were determined by M-mode echocardiography.


RESULTS
The 5th and 95th percentile values of LVM were: 7 and 21 grams for infants aged 0 to 6 months; 13 and 32 grams for 7 to 24 months; 23 and 41 grams for 25 to 36 months; 23 and 59 grams for 37 to 48 months; 30 and 60 grams for 49 and 60 months; 36 and 98 grams for 61 and 72 months. The 5th and 95th percentile values of V were: 4 and 20 ml for infants aged 0 to 6 months; 12 and 36 ml for 7 to 24 months; 16 and 43 ml for 25 to 36 months; 20 to 55 ml for 37 to 48 months; 27 to 64 ml for 49 to 60 months; 39 to 74 ml for 61 to 72 months. The 5th and 95th percentile values of M/V ranged between 1 and 2.3 for infants aged 0 to 6 months, and 0.7-1.2 for those aged 61 to 72 months. LVM, V and LVM/V were significantly (p < 0.0001) related to age, height, weight and body surface area, but were unrelated to gender.
Ascione
L
L
Divisione di Cardiologia, Ospedale Monaldi, Napoli.
De Leva
F
F
Cuomo
S
S
Scherillo
M
M
Caso
P
P
Cioppa
L
L
Mininni
N
N
D000375:Aging; D002306:Cardiac Volume; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D009929:Organ Size; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis
Valori di riferimento per il calcolo ecocardiografico della massa ventricolare sinistra in bambini normali di età compresa tra 0 e 6 anni.