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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
Left ventricular remodelling index (LVRI) in various pathophysiological conditions: a real-time three-dimensional
Stefano De Castro1, Stefano Caselli, Martin Maron
1Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Morphological Sciences, La Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. stefano.decastro@uniroma1.it
Background:
Various studies have reported a close correlation between real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) and cine magnetic resonance imaging studies for the assessment of cardiac volumes and mass.
Objective:
The aim of our study was to evaluate changes in left ventricular volumes and mass in subjects with different pathophysiological conditions. A ratio between left ventricular mass and end-diastolic volume (LVRI), detected by RT3DE, was used to describe various patterns of left ventricular remodelling.
Methods:
RT3DE was performed to calculate left ventricular end-diastolic (LVEDV) and end-systolic volume (LVESV), ejection fraction (LVEF) and mass in 220 selected subjects. Of these, 152 were healthy volunteers, 19 top-level rowers, 23 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and 26 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Off-line analysis was performed by two independent operators by tracing manual endocardial and epicardial borders of the left ventricle through eight cutting planes. Inter- and intra-observer variability were calculated.
Results:
Despite the increase in LV volume and mass in the rowers, LVRI remained unchanged compared with control subjects (p = 0.455), while significantly lower values were found patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (p<0.001) and significantly higher values in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (p<0.001). There was inter- and intra-observer variability.
Conclusion:
The LVRI may serve as a simple and useful indicator of left ventricular adaptation to physiological and pathological conditions.
