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Biomarkers

End-diastolic volume (EDV)

The volume of blood in the left ventricle at the end of diastole — before ejection

Echocardiography: the blood-filled left ventricle at the end of diastole

End-diastolic volume (EDV) is the amount of blood in the ventricle at the end of diastole, just before contraction. It is a measure of cardiac preload.

From the EDV and the end-systolic volume, the stroke volume and ejection fraction are calculated, and the measure itself is obtained on echocardiography.

Reference ranges

The left ventricular EDV is measured in milliliters, more often indexed to body surface area:

EDV, reference~120 – 140 mL
EDV index, women29 – 61 mL/m²
EDV index, men34 – 74 mL/m²
Important: The absolute volume depends on body size, so it is more correct to assess the indexed value.

What an elevated level means

An increased EDV is ventricular dilation. Causes: volume overload (valve regurgitation), dilated cardiomyopathy, decompensation of heart failure. By the Frank–Starling law, a moderate rise in preload increases cardiac output, but with overstretching the heart weakens.

What a low level means

A value within the normal range is a sign of a healthy ventricular chamber. A reduced EDV occurs with dehydration, blood loss, marked hypertrophy with a small chamber, and impaired filling in diastolic dysfunction.

How the test is done

Volumes are measured on echocardiography (Simpson's method) or on cardiac MRI — the most accurate method. Stroke volume = EDV − end-systolic volume; ejection fraction = stroke volume / EDV.

What affects the value

  • Hydration level (preload).
  • The measurement method (echocardiography underestimates volumes relative to MRI).
  • Body size — indexing to body surface area is needed.

Calculate using this marker

Calculators where End-diastolic volume (EDV) is used directly:

Heart Age (Echo) A neural network reads five echocardiogram parameters — accurate to within ±5 years Open Heart Age AI analysis of your ECG — the biological age of your cardiovascular system Open

Frequently asked questions

How is EDV different from ejection fraction?

EDV is the volume of blood before contraction (in mL), while ejection fraction is the share of that volume the heart ejects with one contraction (in %). They are calculated together.

What does an increased EDV indicate?

Most often ventricular dilation (enlargement) due to volume overload or a weakened myocardium. It is assessed together with the ejection fraction and chamber size.

Related terms

Echocardiography A heart ultrasound — an ultrasound study of the heart's structure and function Ejection fraction The percentage of blood the heart ejects with each contraction Cardiac output (CO) The volume of blood the heart pumps in one minute Diastolic function The heart's ability to relax and fill with blood between contractions E/A ratio The ratio of early to late filling velocities of the left ventricle Relative wall thickness (RWT) An index of left-ventricular geometry — a marker of age-related heart remodeling Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) Thickening of the wall of the heart's main chamber from pressure overload

Sources

  1. End-diastolic volume — Wikipedia
  2. ASE/EACVI Recommendations for Cardiac Chamber Quantification (2015)
info
This content is educational and does not replace consultation with a physician. Reference ranges may vary depending on the laboratory and method — rely on the ranges stated on your own test report.
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