A rapid method to quantify left atrial contractile function: Doppler tissue imaging of the mitral annulus during atrial systole.
OBJECTIVE
Assess the value of peak atrial systolic mitral annular velocity (Aann) measured by Doppler tissue echocardiography to quantify left atrial systolic function.


METHODS
We studied a total of 61 adults; 10 subjects without history of heart disease and 51 patients with a history of atrial fibrillation or undergoing evaluation for left ventricular systolic or diastolic dysfunction. Aann was obtained by averaging peak atrial systolic mitral annular velocities from the septal, lateral, anterior, and inferior annulus. Left atrial fractional area change (FAC) and fractional volume change (FVC) during atrial systole were calculated. The correlation between peak atrial systolic mitral annular velocity (Aann) and left atrial systolic FAC and FVC was determined.


RESULTS
Mean FAC and FVC were 27 +/- 12 and 40 +/- 14%, respectively; mean Aann was 11.2 +/- 3.2 cm/s. Linear regression analysis showed correlation between Aann and FAC (r = 0.71; p<0.001) and between Aann and FVC (r = 0.74; p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Peak systolic mitral annular velocity correlates well with left atrial systolic FAC and FVC, thus providing an easy means to assess left atrial systolic function.
Hesse
B
B
Department of Cardiology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Schuele
S U
SU
Thamilasaran
M
M
Thomas
J
J
Rodriguez
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016279:Atrial Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D015588:Observer Variation; D012016:Reference Values; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology