Reference values for left ventricular volumes with real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography.
OBJECTIVE
Obtain normal reference ranges for left ventricular (LV) volume indexes (VI) and ejection fraction (EF) with fast real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) with online analysis.


METHODS
After a screening visit 166 healthy participants, 79 males and 87 females aged 29-80 years were examined with RT3DE and Doppler.


RESULTS
Upper normal values (mean + 2 standard deviations [SD]) for LV end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) and LV end-systolic volume index (LVESVI) were 82 ml/m(2) and 38 ml/m(2), respectively. The lower limit (mean - 2 SD) for LVEF was 49%. LVVI were significantly larger among males (p < 0.001). LV stroke volume (SD) was 87 (22) ml with Doppler vs. 69 (14) ml with RT3DE (p < 0.001). In males there was a positive correlation between age and LVEF (r = 0.34, p = 0.003). In a reproducibility study of RT3DE and 2-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) the coefficients of variability for repeated recordings were 5.7% for LVEDV, 7.7% for LVESV and 6.7% for LVEF with RT3DE, and 8.6%, 8.6% and 6.4% with 2DE, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These reference values presented from a large group of normal subjects over a wide age range with RT3DE may represent a valuable tool to evaluate if LV systolic dysfunction is present or not.
Aune
Erlend
E
Department of Cardiology, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.
Baekkevar
Morten
M
Rødevand
Olaf
O
Otterstad
Jan Erik
JE
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001830:Body Surface Area; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left