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.
Koestenberger
Martin
M
Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 30, Graz, Austria. martin.koestenberger@klinikum-graz.at
Ravekes
William
W
Everett
Allen D
AD
Stueger
Hans Peter
HP
Heinzl
Bernd
B
Gamillscheg
Andreas
A
Cvirn
Gerhard
G
Boysen
Arnulf
A
Fandl
Andrea
A
Nagel
Bert
B
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