Nomograms for two-dimensional echocardiography derived valvular and arterial dimensions in Caucasian children.
Despite recent advances, current pediatric echocardiographic nomograms for valvular and arterial dimensions remain limited.



We prospectively studied healthy Caucasian Italian children by two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography. Echocardiographic measurements for 18 valvular and arterial dimensions were performed and models were generated testing for linear, logarithmic, exponential, and square root relationships. Heteroscedasticity was accounted for by White or Breusch-Pagan test. Age, weight, height, heart rate, and body surface area (BSA) were used as independent variables in different analyses to predict the mean values of each measurement. Structured Z-scores were then computed.



In all, 1151 subjects (age 0 days to 17 years; 45% females; BSA 0.12-2.12m2) were studied. The Haycock formula was used when presenting data as predicted values (mean±2 SDs) for a given BSA and within equations relating echocardiographic measurements to BSA. The predicted values and Z-score boundaries for all measurements are presented.



We report echocardiographic nomograms for valvular and arterial dimensions derived from a large population of children. Integration of these data with those of previous reports would allow for a comprehensive coverage of pediatric 2D echocardiographic nomograms for measurement of 2D cardiac structures.
Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Massa and Pisa, Italy.
Massimiliano
M
Cantinotti
Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Massa and Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: raf_jordan@inwind.it.
Raffaele
R
Giordano
Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy.
Marco
M
Scalese
Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Massa and Pisa, Italy.
Bruno
B
Murzi
Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Massa and Pisa, Italy.
Nadia
N
Assanta
Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Massa and Pisa, Italy.
Isabella
I
Spadoni
Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Massa and Pisa, Italy.
Crocetti
C
Maura
Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Massa and Pisa, Italy.
Marotta
M
Marco
Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy.
Sabrina
S
Molinaro
University of Nebraska Medical Center/Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
Shelby
S
Kutty
Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Massa and Pisa, Italy; Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy.
Giorgio
G
Iervasi
D000293:Adolescent; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001830:Body Surface Area; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D049451:Nomograms; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D044465:White People
Children; Echocardiography; Nomograms