Quantitative regional analysis of left atrial function by Doppler tissue imaging-derived parameters discriminates patients with posterior and anterior myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
Doppler tissue imaging can now be used for the assessment of left atrial (LA) function. LA function was evaluated by this technique in a group of patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction and in a control population.


METHODS
Patients were all prospectively imaged with a scanner. To study the LA, a region of interest was located in the proximal part of the lateral and septal LA walls. Doppler tissue imaging, tissue tracking, strain, and delays were recorded.


RESULTS
In all, 12 patients with posterior (age 54 +/- 9 years) and 13 with anterior (age 64 +/- 16 years) acute myocardial infarction, along with 16 control patients (age 54 +/- 9 years), were analyzed. Early diastolic septal velocity was found to be the best parameter for discriminating among the 3 groups. Peak strain was also relevant and did not correlate with left ventricular function.


CONCLUSIONS
LA is accessible to Doppler tissue imaging analysis. Strain can quantify LA function relatively independently of left ventricular function, and may provide new insights on LA function.
Donal
Erwan
E
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital La Miletrie, 86021 Poitiers, France. e.donal@chu-poitiers.fr
Raud-Raynier
Pascale
P
Racaud
Angélique
A
Coisne
Damien
D
Herpin
Daniel
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016279:Atrial Function, Left; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies