0000000000181673

AUTHOR

Raluca Elena Dulgheru

Echocardiographic reference ranges for normal left ventricular 2D strain: results from the EACVI NORRE study

International audience; Aims - To obtain the normal ranges for 2D echocardiographic (2DE) measurements of left ventricular (LV) strain from a large group of healthy volunteers accounting for age and gender. Methods and results - A total of 549 (mean age: 45.6 ± 13.3 years) healthy subjects were enrolled at 22 collaborating institutions of the Normal Reference Ranges for Echocardiography (NORRE) study. 2DE data sets have been analysed with a vendor-independent software package allowing homogeneous measurements irrespective of the echocardiographic equipment used to acquire the data sets. The lowest expected values of LV strains and twist calculated as ± 1.96 standard deviations from the mean…

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Normal Reference Ranges for Echocardiography: Rationale, study design, and methodology (NORRE Study)

International audience; BACKGROUND: Availability of normative reference values for cardiac chamber dimensions, volumes, mass, and function is a prerequisite for the accurate application of echocardiography for both clinical and research purposes. However, due to the lack of consistency in current echocardiographic 'reference values', their use for clinical decision-making remains questionable. AIMS: The aim of the 'Normal Reference Ranges for Echocardiography Study (NORRE Study)' is to obtain a set of 'normal values' for cardiac chamber geometry and function in a large cohort of healthy Caucasian individuals aged over a wide range of ages (25-75 years) using both conventional and advanced e…

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Echocardiographic reference ranges for normal cardiac Doppler data: results from the NORRE Study

International audience; AIMS: Reference values for Doppler parameters according to age and gender are recommended for the assessment of heart physiology, specifically for left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. In this study, we report normal reference ranges for Doppler parameters obtained in a large group of healthy volunteers. Echocardiographic data were acquired using state-of-the-art cardiac ultrasound equipment following Doppler acquisition and measurement protocols approved by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 449 (mean age: 45.8 ± 13.7 years) healthy volunteers (198 men and 251 women) were enrolled at the collaborating institutions…

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Echocardiographic reference ranges for normal cardiac chamber size: Results from the NORRE study

AimsAvailability of normative reference values for cardiac chamber quantitation is a prerequisite for accurate clinical application of echocardiography. In this study, we report normal reference ranges for cardiac chambers size obtained in a large group of healthy volunteers accounting for gender and age. Echocardiographic data were acquired using state-of-the-art cardiac ultrasound equipment following chamber quantitation protocols approved by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging.MethodsA total of 734 (mean age: 45.8 ± 13.3 years) healthy volunteers (320 men and 414 women) were enrolled at 22 collaborating institutions of the Normal Reference Ranges for Echocardiography (NORR…

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Outcomes of Patients With Asymptomatic Aortic Stenosis Followed Up in Heart Valve Clinics

International audience; Importance - The natural history and the management of patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) have not been fully examined in the current era. Objective - To determine the clinical outcomes of patients with asymptomatic AS using data from the Heart Valve Clinic International Database. Design, setting, and participants - This registry was assembled by merging data from prospectively gathered institutional databases from 10 heart valve clinics in Europe, Canada, and the United States. Asymptomatic patients with an aortic valve area of 1.5 cm2 or less and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than 50% at entry were considered for the prese…

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Echocardiographic reference ranges for normal left ventricular layer-specific strain: results from the EACVI NORRE study

Abstract Aims  To obtain the normal range for 2D echocardiographic (2DE) measurements of left ventricular (LV) layer-specific strain from a large group of healthy volunteers of both genders over a wide range of ages. Methods and results  A total of 287 (109 men, mean age: 46 ± 14 years) healthy subjects were enrolled at 22 collaborating institutions of the EACVI Normal Reference Ranges for Echocardiography (NORRE) study. Layer-specific strain was analysed from the apical two-, three-, and four-chamber views using 2DE software. The lowest values of layer-specific strain calculated as ±1.96 standard deviations from the mean were −15.0% in men and −15.6% in women for epicardial strain, −16.8% …

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Targeting the tricuspid valve: A new therapeutic challenge

Scientific Editorial

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3D echocardiographic reference ranges for normal left ventricular volumes and strain: results from the EACVI NORRE study

International audience; Aim: To obtain the normal ranges for 3D echocardiography (3DE) measurement of left ventricular (LV) volumes, function, and strain from a large group of healthy volunteers. Methods and results: A total of 440 (mean age: 45 ± 13 years) out of the 734 healthy subjects enrolled at 22 collaborating institutions of the Normal Reference Ranges for Echocardiography (NORRE) study had good-quality 3DE data sets that have been analysed with a vendor-independent software package allowing homogeneous measurements regardless of the echocardiographic machine used to acquire the data sets. Upper limits of LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes were larger in men (97 and 42 mL/m2)…

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Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic normal reference ranges for proximal aorta dimensions: Results from the EACVI NORRE study

International audience; AIMS: To report normal reference ranges for echocardiographic dimensions of the proximal aorta obtained in a large group of healthy volunteers recruited using state-of-the-art cardiac ultrasound equipment, considering different measurement conventions, and taking into account gender, age, and body size of individuals. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 704 (mean age: 46.0 ± 13.5 years) healthy volunteers (310 men and 394 women) were prospectively recruited from the collaborating institutions of the Normal Reference Ranges for Echocardiography (NORRE) study. A comprehensive echocardiographic examination was obtained in all subjects following pre-defined protocols. Aortic…

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Multimodality imaging strategies for the assessment of aortic stenosis: Viewpoint of the heart valve clinic international database (HAVEC) group

International audience; Aortic stenosis is the most frequent valvular heart disease. In aortic stenosis, therapeutic decision essentially depends on symptomatic status, stenosis severity, and status of left ventricular systolic function. Surgical aortic valve replacement or transcatheter aortic valve implantation is the sole effective therapy in symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis, whereas the management of asymptomatic patients remains controversial and is mainly based on individual risk stratification. Imaging is fundamental for the initial diagnostic work-up, follow-up, and selection of the optimal timing and type of intervention. The present review provides specific recomme…

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Echocardiographic reference ranges for normal non-invasive myocardial work indices: results from the EACVI NORRE study

International audience; Aims - To obtain the normal ranges for 2D echocardiographic (2DE) indices of myocardial work (MW) from a large group of healthy volunteers over a wide range of ages and gender. Methods and results - A total of 226 (85 men, mean age: 45 ± 13 years) healthy subjects were enrolled at 22 collaborating institutions of the Normal Reference Ranges for Echocardiography (NORRE) study. Global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global work waste (GWW), and global work efficiency (GWE) were estimated from left ventricle (LV) pressure-strain loops. Peak LV systolic pressure was non-invasively derived from brachial artery cuff pressure. The lowest values of MW indic…

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Correlation between non-invasive myocardial work indices and main parameters of systolic and diastolic function

Abstract Aims The present study sought to evaluate the correlation between indices of non-invasive myocardial work (MW) and left ventricle (LV) size, traditional and advanced parameters of LV systolic and diastolic function by 2D echocardiography (2DE). Methods and results A total of 226 (85 men, mean age: 45 ± 13 years) healthy subjects were enrolled at 22 collaborating institutions of the Normal Reference Ranges for Echocardiography (NORRE) study. Global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global work waste (GWW), and global work efficiency (GWE) were estimated from LV pressure-strain loops using custom software. Peak LV pressure was estimated non-invasively from brachial ar…

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