Normal Values of Real-Time 3-Dimensional Echocarcliographic Parameters in a Healthy Japanese Population - The JAMP-3D Study

Background: The recently developed real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) is a promising imaging method to quantify cardiac chamber volumes and their functions in clinical practice. However, normal reference values of RT3DE parameters have not been fully investigated in a large, healthy Japanese population. Methods and Results: This study consisted of 410 healthy subjects aged from 20 to 69 years who had a RT3DE at one of the 23 collaborating institutions. All subjects had no history of cardiac disease and no risk factors. The mean values in men and women were as follows: 50 +/- 12 ml/m(2) and 46 +/- 9 ml/m(2) for left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume index, 19 +/- 5 ml/m(2) and 17 +/- 4 ml/m(2) for end-systolic volume index, 61 +/- 4% and 63 +/- 4% for ejection fraction, 64 +/- 12 g/m(2) and 56 11 g/m(2) for mass index, 23 +/- 6 ml/m(2) and 24 +/- 6 ml/m(2) for left atrial (LA) maximum volume index, 10 +/- 3 ml/m(2) and 10 +/- 3 ml/m(2) for minimum volume index, and 58 +/- 6% and 58 +/- 6% for percent volume change. LV sizes decreased with age, whereas LV mass index did not change. LA sizes slightly increased with age. Conclusions: This multicenter investigation determined normal reference values for LV and LA sizes, and their functional parameters on RT3DE in a large, healthy Japanese population. The results of the present study support the use of RT3DE for the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease. (Circ J 2012; 76: 1177-1181)