Ultrasound Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ultrasound, including details on screening, diagnosis, pregnancy, detection.

Left ventricular remodelling index (LVRI) in various pathophysiological conditions: a real-time three-dimensional echocardiographic study.

De Castro S, Caselli S, Maron M, Pelliccia A, Cavarretta E, Maddukuri P, Cartoni D, Di Angelantonio E, Kuvin JT, Patel AR, Pandian NG

Department 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.

Published 17 January 2007 in Heart, 93(2): 205-9.
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