Usefulness of left atrial diametres and volumes for the evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function
Vizzardi, E.; Bonadei, I.; Teli, M.; Caretta, G.; Maiandi, C.; Madureri, A.; Bordonali, T.; Chiari, E.; Raddino, R.; Cas, L.D.
Recenti Progressi in Medicina 100(6): 294-298
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-1193 PMID: 19708299 Document Number: 630093
The diastolic function of the left ventricle is a main point of the physiological adaptations of the cardiovascular system to the various situations. Evaluation of left atrium diameter change during diastole and left atrial volume and their possible correlation with different left ventricular diastolic filling pattern. Ninety patients with echocardiographically determined diastolic dysfunction and eighty healthy volunteers were included in the study. We measured left atrium emptying fraction (LAEF), defined as ratio of end-diastolic left atrial diameter to end-systolic diameter and left atrial volume. Mitral flow pulsed wave velocities were recorded. E, A, E/A, deceleration time of early diastolic filling, isovolumetric relaxation time were measured. Pulmonary vein S, D and atrial reversal velocities and tissue Doppler imaging of E' and A' mitral anular velocities were obtained. LAEF was found 0.6 +/- 0.4 (mean SE) in the control group, 0.81 +/- 0.04 in pseudonormal pattern (P < 0.05, control vs pseudonormal group), 0.89 +/- 0.01 in the greater A wave than E wave (P < 0.001, control vs restrictive pattern group), and 0.78 +/- 0.2 in the A > E group (P < 0.05, control vs A > E pattern group). LAEF and atrial volume are a new and practical methods for the differentiation of the normal-pseudonormal mitral flow pattern, in particular in setting without new ultrasound technologies.