No abstract

Three-dimensional echocardiography is an accurate method for measuring LV mass. Age and gender dependence, but no ethnic dependence, of LV mass index was observed in Japanese and American populations. The reported normal reference values of 3DE-determined LV mass index according to age and gender could potentially be useful for diagnosing LV hypertrophy with excellent accuracy.

In asymptomatic moderate to severe degenerative MR, EIPH was independently associated with exercise capacity and predicted the occurrence of symptoms. Exercise stress echocardiography is an important tool in managing patients with asymptomatic degenerative MR.

The specificity in the correlation between STE-derived MAD and LVEF was found in patients with each heart disease, which should be taken into account when assessing these parameters.