This calculator is for general information and education. It is not medical advice and does not replace the judgment of a doctor, nurse or pharmacist who knows the full clinical picture.
Why left ventricular mass matters
The left ventricle thickens and gains muscle when it works against a high pressure for years, as with high blood pressure or a narrowed aortic valve, or when it handles extra volume, as with a leaking valve. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is linked with a higher risk of heart failure, rhythm problems, heart attack and stroke, so its detection matters. An ECG can suggest LVH, but echocardiography measures it far more reliably.
The ASE formula
The American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging recommend the linear method of Devereux, using three measurements taken at end-diastole:
LV mass (g) = 0.8 × 1.04 × [(IVSd + LVIDd + PWd)³ − LVIDd³] + 0.6
with the septum (IVSd), the internal diameter (LVIDd) and the posterior wall (PWd) in centimeters. The factor 1.04 is the density of heart muscle in g/mL and 0.8 a correction derived from autopsy studies. Mass is then indexed to body surface area, calculated here with the Mosteller formula.
Reference values (ASE/EACVI 2015)
| LV mass index | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | 43 to 95 g/m² | 49 to 115 g/m² |
| Mild LVH | 96 to 108 | 116 to 131 |
| Moderate LVH | 109 to 121 | 132 to 148 |
| Severe LVH | 122 or more | 149 or more |
Geometry
The relative wall thickness, RWT = 2 × PWd ÷ LVIDd, combined with the mass index sorts the ventricle into four patterns:
| RWT 0.42 or less | RWT over 0.42 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal mass | normal geometry | concentric remodeling |
| High mass | eccentric hypertrophy | concentric hypertrophy |
Example
A man 175 cm tall weighing 80 kg, with a septum and posterior wall of 1.2 cm and a diastolic diameter of 4.8 cm, has an LV mass of about 219 g and an index of about 111 g/m², just within normal. His RWT is 0.50, which points to concentric remodeling.
Limits
Small errors in wall thickness are cubed by the formula, so careful measurement matters. The linear method assumes a normally shaped ventricle; 3D echocardiography or cardiac MRI are more accurate when the shape is distorted. Athletes can have a moderately enlarged heart without disease.