ANGIOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF LEFT AND RIGHT-VENTRICULAR VOLUMES AND LEFT-VENTRICULAR MASS IN NORMAL INFANTS AND CHILDREN

Left and right ventricular (LV and RV) volumes and LV mass mere assess ed by angiography in 63 infants and children without major cardiovascu lar abnormalities. LV and RV end-diastolic volumes (EDV) were excellen tly expressed as a function of body surface area (BSA) with an exponen tial equation: LVEDV=83.7 (BSA)(1.29) ml (r = 0.96, p < 0.001), RVEDV = 87.9 (BSA)(1.29) ml (r = 0.94, p < 0.001). LV ejection fraction (EF) averaged 64 +/- 6 (mean +/- standard deviation) %, and RVEF 56 +/- 5% , each of which was independent of BSA. LV mass was well expressed as a function of BSA with an exponential equation: LV mass = 75.4 (BSA)(1 .22) g (r = 0.86) p < 0.001). LV mass/LVEDV was constant, and averaged 0.96 +/- 0.22 g/ml. Thus, the values of LVEDV, RVEDV, and LV mass in infants and children with various heart diseases may be estimated with reasonable accuracy as a percentage of normal values predicted from t heir BSA. by using the above-proposed exponential equations. The norma l values of LVEF, RVEF and LV mass/LVEDV themselves can be compared wi th these parameters in pediatric patients with heart diseases because of their independence of BSA.