[The relationship of the left atrial spontaneous echo contrast integrated backscatter with left atrial appendix function and tissue doppler characteristics].
OBJECTIVE
Integrated backscatter (IBS) is an objective method to measure spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) quantitatively. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the quantitative values of left atrial SEC measured by using IBS with its qualitative gradation as well as the left atrial appendix (LAA) functions and LAA tissue Doppler characteristics (TD).


METHODS
Thirty-two patients (23 female, 9 male) with various diseases undergoing transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) were included. Mean age was 52 + 13 years. Left atrial SEC was graded as no SEC (n = 12), mild (n = 12) or severe SEC (n = 8) in patients underwent TEE. LAA peak emptying and LAA apical and basal TD velocities were measured. LAA ejection fraction was assessed by standard means.


RESULTS
Between no SEC and mild SEC groups, left atrium IBS and LAA apical TD values were found statistically significant. But there were no differences between two groups regarding LAA emptying velocities, LAA ejection fraction values and LAA basal TD values. All of these parameters were found statistically different between severe and mild SEC groups. The left atrial IBS values were found to be correlated positively with the qualitative SEC grade. The left atrial IBS values correlated negatively with LAA emptying, apical TD velocities and LAA ejection fraction values.


CONCLUSIONS
Integrated backscatter provides an objective quantitative measure of SEC that correlates well with LAA apical TD velocities and the other parameters of LAA.
Tekten
Tarkan
T
Adnan Menderes Universitesi Tip Fakültesi Kardiyoloji Anabilim Dali, Aydin. tarkantekten@superonline.com
Onbaşili
O Alper
OA
Ceyhan
Ceyhun
C
Ercan
Ertugrul
E
D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016279:Atrial Function, Left; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted