Normal right and left ventricular mass development during early infancy.
The average newborn's right ventricular mass, indexed to body surface area, is approximately 20% above the adult level, consistent with in utero physiologic hypertrophy. In contrast, the left ventricular mass index is underdeveloped by about 30% at birth, resulting in a ratio of right to left ventricular mass that is nearly 75% higher than at maturity. Left ventricular mass index increases rapidly during the first 2 weeks of life and then more slowly thereafter, whereas the right ventricular mass index decreases steadily during the first 4 months of life.
Joyce
James J
JJ
Department of Pediatrics, UCLA School of Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA. jjoyce1@tulane.edu
Dickson
Patricia I
PI
Qi
Ning
N
Noble
Julie E
JE
Raj
J Usha
JU
Baylen
Barry G
BG
D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values