title: Normal Reference Ranges for Echocardiography: rationale, study design, and methodology (NORRE Study).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Availability of normative reference values for cardiac chamber dimensions, volumes, mass, and function is a prerequisite for the accurate application of echocardiography for both clinical and research purposes. However, due to the lack of consistency in current echocardiographic 'reference values', their use for clinical decision-making remains questionable.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the 'Normal Reference Ranges for Echocardiography Study (NORRE Study)' is to obtain a set of 'normal values' for cardiac chamber geometry and function in a large cohort of healthy Caucasian individuals aged over a wide range of ages (25-75 years) using both conventional and advanced echocardiographic techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  The NORRE Study is a large prospective, observational multicentre study in which transthoracic echocardiographic studies will be acquired in 22 laboratories accredited by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging and in one laboratory in the USA accredited by ICAEL. The final sample size has been estimated in 1100 normal subjects in whom M-mode, 2D, and 3D imaging, colour Doppler, pulsed-wave Doppler, pulsed-wave tissue Doppler, and colour tissue Doppler imaging data will be obtained. All studies will be sent to a central echocardiographic core laboratory for quantitative analysis. Multiple studies will be performed for reproducibility analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After completion of the NORRE Study, uniform reference limits according to age, gender, and anthropometric parameters will be available to standardize the quantitative interpretation of echocardiography.
authors: University of Liège Hospital, GIGA Cardiovascular Science, Heart Valve Clinic, Liege, Belgium. plancellotti@chu.ulg.ac.be
authors: Patrizio
authors: P
authors: Lancellotti
authors: Luigi P
authors: LP
authors: Badano
authors: Roberto M
authors: RM
authors: Lang
authors: Natela
authors: N
authors: Akhaladze
authors: George D
authors: GD
authors: Athanassopoulos
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Barone
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Baroni
authors: Nuno
authors: N
authors: Cardim
authors: Jose Juan
authors: JJ
authors: Gomez de Diego
authors: Genevieve
authors: G
authors: Derumeaux
authors: Raluca
authors: R
authors: Dulgheru
authors: Thor
authors: T
authors: Edvardsen
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Galderisi
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Gonçalves
authors: Gilbert
authors: G
authors: Habib
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Hagendorff
authors: Krasimira
authors: K
authors: Hristova
authors: Seisyou
authors: S
authors: Kou
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Lopez
authors: Julien
authors: J
authors: Magne
authors: Gonzalo
authors: G
authors: de la Morena
authors: Bogdan A
authors: BA
authors: Popescu
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Penicka
authors: Tolga
authors: T
authors: Rasit
authors: Jose David
authors: JD
authors: Rodrigo Carbonero
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Salustri
authors: Nico
authors: N
authors: Van de Veire
authors: Ralph Stephan
authors: RS
authors: von Bardeleben
authors: Dragos
authors: D
authors: Vinereanu
authors: Jens-Uwe
authors: JU
authors: Voigt
authors: Damien
authors: D
authors: Voilliot
authors: Jose Louis
authors: JL
authors: Zamorano
authors: Erwan
authors: E
authors: Donal
authors: Gerald
authors: G
authors: Maurer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012015:Reference Standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*