Reference Values of Longitudinal Systolic Right and Left Ventricular Function Measured by M-mode Echocardiography in Healthy Preterm and Term Neonates

BACKGROUND: The mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) are parameters for evaluating systolic function, which is directly affected by ventricular morphology and geometry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study in term and preterm neonates calculated TAPSE and MAPSE at the lateral and septal (LAT/SEP) mitral. The study groups were divided into three classes based on birth age: two preterm groups, 30–33 weeks and 34–37 weeks, and one term group, 38–40 weeks. RESULTS: This study included 21 term neonates and 31 preterm neonates. The mean LAT MAPSE was 0.63 ± 0.11 cm for gestational age (GA) of 30–33 weeks, 0.76 ± 0.03 cm among GA of 34–36 weeks, and 0.84 ± 0.08 cm for GA of 37–40 weeks; the mean SEP MAPSE was 0.39 ± 0.14 cm, 0.51 ± 0.06 cm, and 0.65 ± 0.09 cm, respectively; and the mean TAPSE was 0.47 ± 0.13 cm, 0.62 ± 0.07 cm and 0.88 ± 0.15 cm, respectively. The mean LAT MAPSE was 0.63 ± 0.09 cm for neonates weighing 1500–2500 g and 0.82 ± 0.06 cm for those weighing 2500–3600 g; the mean SEP MAPSE was 0.39 ± 0.11 cm and 0.61 ± 0.09 cm, respectively. The LAT MAPSE showed a positive correlation with body surface area (BSA) and body weight (BW) (P = 0.0001). In addition, the SEP MAPSE indicated a positive correlation with BSA and BW (P = 0.0001). The TAPSE had a positive correlation with BSA (P = 0.0001) and BW (r = 0.876, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The TAPSE and MAPSE values were calculated to establish the reference values for assessing global ventricular systolic function in neonate's health.