Normal reference ranges for left and right atrial volume indexes and ejection fractions obtained with real-time three-dimensional echocardiography.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to obtain normal reference ranges and intra-observer reproducibility for left (L) and right (R) atrial (A) volume indexes (VI, corrected for body surface area) and ejection fractions (EF) with real-time three-dimensional echocardiography.


RESULTS
One hundred and sixty-six participants, 79 males and 87 females, aged 29-79 years considered free from clinical and subclinical cardiovascular disease, were included. Normal ranges are defined as 95% reference values for atrial dimensions and reproducibility as coefficients of variations (CVs) for repeated measurements. Upper normal reference values were 41 mL/m(2) for maximum (max) LAVI and 19 mL/m(2) for minimum (min) LAVI. The lower normal reference value was 45% for LAEF. The respective values for RA were 47 mL/m(2), 20 mL/m(2), and 46%. The only relevant gender difference was a higher upper normal max RAVI among males vs. females. The CVs for repeated measurements were 9% for max LAVI, 8% for max RAVI, 13% for LAEF, and 14% for RAEF.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study provides normal ranges for atrial dimensions and contractility with a new, fast, and reproducible technique that can be used bedside without offline analysis.
Department of Cardiology, Vestfold Hospital Trust, NO-3103 Toensberg, Norway. erlend.aune@siv.no
Erlend
E
Aune
Morten
M
Baekkevar
Jo
J
Roislien
Olaf
O
Rodevand
Jan Erik
JE
Otterstad
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology*