[Reference values of cardiac volume in children and adults of the Ivory Coast]

The cardiac volume in decubitus was measured by Rohrer radiological method in 229 subjects, of which 150 were children of both sexes, aged 4 to 16 and 79 were adult males, 17 to 50 years old. Anthropometric parameters and maximum O2 consumption were also measured. Considering that the size of thorax in Ivory Coast natives is significantly smaller than that of a Caucasian, an eventual influence over the cardiac volume was looked for. Results showed that: -- in the child, the cardiac, volume increased linearly with age: 162 ml at 4 and 680 ml at 16; -- significant positive correlations were found between the cardiac volume, the body-weight andusrface, and the measurements of the thorax; -- when compared to data found in the literature, the cardiac volumes of children and adults of the Ivory Coast in relation with the body weight or surface are lower than the values found in Caucasians; -- children who have been swimming for two years and adults from the national swimming team have a cardiac volume significantly superior to that of Ivory controls; for these subjects, results are equivalent to those of Caucasians; -- there is a highly significant positive correlation between the cardiac volume and the maximum oxygen consumption. To compare values of cardiac volume in different populations, it is necessary that the groups of subjects be very homogeneous and have a comparable level of activity.