Right ventricular function in infants, children and adolescents: reference values of the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) in 640 healthy patients and calculation of z score values.
BACKGROUND
Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is an echocardiographic measurement to assess right ventricular systolic function in adults. The aim of this study was to determine growth-related changes in TAPSE to establish references values.


METHODS
A prospective study was conducted in a group of 640 healthy pediatric patients (age range, 1 day to 18 years; body surface area range, 0.12-2.25 m(2)). The effects of age and body surface area on TAPSE were determined.


RESULTS
TAPSE ranged from a mean of 0.91 cm (z score +/- 3, 0.56-1.26 cm) in neonates to 2.47 cm (z score +/- 3, 1.84-3.10 cm) in 18-year-olds. TAPSE values showed positive correlations with age and body surface area. There was no significant difference in TAPSE values between female or male children.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, z scores of TAPSE values were calculated and percentile charts were established to serve as reference data for ready application in patients with congenital heart disease in the future.
Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 30, Graz, Austria. martin.koestenberger@klinikum-graz.at
Martin
M
Koestenberger
William
W
Ravekes
Allen D
AD
Everett
Hans Peter
HP
Stueger
Bernd
B
Heinzl
Andreas
A
Gamillscheg
Gerhard
G
Cvirn
Arnulf
A
Boysen
Andrea
A
Fandl
Bert
B
Nagel
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography