Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography
Published on: February 16, 2016
[Left ventricular mass in children in relation to body surface area]
Mirosława Szewczykowska1, Jacek Grygalewicz, Magdalena Szkiłładź-Skiba
1Kliniczny Oddział Dzieciecy Szpital Bielański, ul. Cegłowska 80, 01-809 Warszawa.
Insights
This study establishes normal left ventricular mass (LVM) reference values for children aged 2 weeks to 18 years. Left ventricular mass correlates with body surface area and age, with no significant gender differences found.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Echocardiography
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Limited data exists on normal left ventricular mass (LVM) values in children.
- Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in pediatric populations requires established reference ranges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine normal left ventricular mass (LVM) values in infants and children.
- To establish reference ranges in relation to body surface area (BSA), age, and gender.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiographic assessment of LVM in 773 healthy children (2 weeks to 18 years).
- LVM calculated using standard formulas and correlated with BSA and age.
- Statistical analysis included Spearman rank correlation and Mann-Whitney U test.
Main Results:
- Significant correlations found between LVM, BSA, and age.
- No significant gender-dependent differences in LVM values were observed.
- Abnormal LVM values (exceeding 95th percentile) were identified in 3.2% of children.
Conclusions:
- The study provides reliable reference values for LVM in children.
- BSA is a suitable parameter for calculating LVM in pediatric populations.
- Children with LVM exceeding the 95th percentile or +2SD warrant cardiology follow-up.
Background:
In spite of growing interest in the problem of left ventricular hypertrophy in children there is relatively little published data on normal values of the left ventricular mass (LVM) among data on normal values in the developmental age.
Aim:
To determine the normal values of LVM in infants and children in relation to body surface area (BSA), age (in months) and gender.
Material And Methods:
This study was carried out on 773 children (403 girls and 370 boys, aged from 2 weeks to 18 yrs). They were referred for echocardiographic investigations from paediatric and neonatal hospital departments, from outpatients clinics and primary schools. In all patients cardiovascular disease was excluded. LVM (in grams) was calculated in relation to BSA, age in months and sex. All echocardiographic studies were carried out by the same investigator, according to the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) convention, modification 2D using, Philips HD14000 Ultrasonograph. The LVM values were calculated at the end of diastole from: left ventricle dimension (LVDd), interventricular septum thickness (IVSd) and thickness of the posterior wall of the left ventricle (LVPWd). Data were analysed in relation to the body surface area (in 17 consecutive intervals from 0.2 m(2) to 1.8 m(2)) and to age (in months) for all children and for girls and boys separately. LVM values were calculated as a mean +/- SD and extreme values 5 or 95 percentile. The results were accepted as normal when they did not exceed 2SD or 5(th) or 9(th) percentile. Statistic analysis was performed with the use of rank correlation Spearman test and Mann-Whitney U.test.
Results:
The left heart ventricular mass was determined on the base of data from healty children aged 2 weeks to 18 years. A significant correlation of LVM with BSA and with age was found. There were no significant gender dependent differences in LVM values. Abnormal values exceeding the 95(th) percentile were present in 25 (3.2 %) examined children.
Conclusions:
1. LVM values obtained in this study can be used as reference values. 2. No gender differences were found in LVM. 3. BSA is a good reference parameter in calculating LVM in children aged 2 weeks-18 years. Both BSA and age give high correlation with left ventricular hypertrophy, in children with left muscular ventricular mass exceeding 95 percentile or + 2SD, long term care in department of cardiology is recommended.
