Normal values of regional left ventricular endocardial motion: multicenter color kinesis study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging
• Physiology

Background:

• Accurate assessment of left ventricular (LV) function is crucial for diagnosing cardiac conditions.
• Quantitative color kinesis offers a method for evaluating regional systolic and diastolic function.
• Establishing age- and gender-specific normal values is essential for objective interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine normal reference ranges for quantitative color kinesis indexes of LV wall motion.
• To investigate age- and gender-related variations in these indexes.
• To provide a basis for the objective diagnosis of regional systolic and diastolic dysfunction.

Main Methods:

• Acquisition of color-encoded images in 194 healthy subjects (2 months to 79 years).
• Analysis of quantitative indexes for magnitude and timing of systolic and diastolic function.
• Statistical evaluation for age and gender differences.

Main Results:

• Normal limits for ejection and filling indexes showed minimal variation (< or =25% of mean) with no significant gender differences.
• Peak ejection and filling rates declined with age, while ejection and filling times increased.
• Age-related increases in late-to-early filling and ejection ratios, and diastolic asynchrony were observed.

Conclusions:

• Normal values for quantitative color kinesis indexes were established across a wide age range.
• Age-related changes in LV filling and ejection dynamics, including increased asynchrony, were quantified.
• These established normal values facilitate the objective detection of regional LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction.