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Pediatric nomograms for left ventricle biplane 2D volumes in healthy Caucasian children
Massimiliano Cantinotti1, Marco Scalese2, Raffaele Giordano3
1Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Massa and Pisa, Italy.
Insights
This study provides essential normal values for left ventricular (LV) volumes in healthy children, using echocardiography. These findings establish crucial pediatric echocardiographic nomograms for assessing cardiac conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Echocardiography
- Cardiac Physiology
Background:
- Left ventricular (LV) volumes are critical for assessing heart size and function.
- Normal LV volume values are currently lacking for pediatric populations.
- This deficiency hinders accurate diagnosis in children with cardiac abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative reference values for LV volumes in healthy children.
- To utilize the biplane Simpson method for precise LV volume measurements.
- To address the gap in pediatric echocardiographic nomograms.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 1320 healthy Caucasian Italian children (0 days to 17 years).
- Echocardiographic measurements of LV volumes were performed.
- Age, heart rate (HR), and body surface area (BSA) were analyzed as predictors.
Main Results:
- Exponential models best described the relationship between LV volumes and predictors.
- Body surface area (BSA) demonstrated the strongest association with LV volumes.
- Normalized LV volume data and BSA-specific Z-score boundaries were generated.
Conclusions:
- Presents the first normal values for 2D biplane LV volumes in a healthy pediatric cohort.
- Fills a critical void in pediatric echocardiographic reference data.
- Provides a baseline for evaluating pediatric cardiac defects involving LV size abnormalities.
Background:
Left ventricular (LV) volumes are basic parameters used to estimate ventricular size and function; however, normal values are not available in children. The aim of our study is to provide normal values for LV volumes (measured with the biplane Simpson method) in healthy children.
Materials And Methods:
We prospectively studied 1320 healthy Caucasian Italian children (age 0 days-17 years, 49.4% female). Echocardiographic measurements on LV volumes were performed. Age, heart rate (HR), and body surface area (BSA) were used as independent variables in different analyses to predict the mean values of each measurement.
Results:
Models with exponential (ln[y] = a + b*ln[x]) equations resulted in the best fit for LV volumes. The association with BSA was found to be stronger than the association of HR and age. Thus BSA was used for normalization of our data. Predicted values and Z-score boundaries by BSA are provided.
Conclusions:
We report normal values for 2D biplane LV volumes in a population of healthy children. These data cover a gap in current pediatric echocardiographic nomograms and may serve as baseline for evaluation of children with cardiac defects characterized by LV dilatation or hypoplasia.
