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 were assessed by angiography in 63 infants and children without major cardiovascular abnormalities. LV and RV end-diastolic volumes (EDV) were excellently expressed as a function of body surface area (BSA) with an exponential 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 their BSA by using the above-proposed exponential equations. The normal values of LVEF, RVEF and LV mass/LVEDV themselves can be compared with these parameters in pediatric patients with heart diseases because of their independence of BSA.