title: Effect of left atrial compliance on pulmonary artery pressure: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, with secondary atrial pressure elevation, is a well-known concept. On the contrary, effect of left atrial compliance on pulmonary pressure is rarely considered.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the echocardiographic case of a 9-year-old child who presented severe rheumatic mitral valve regurgitation with a giant left atrium, in contrast to a normal artery pulmonary pressure, testifying of the high left atrial compliance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Left atrial compliance is an important determinant of symptoms and pulmonary artery pressure in mitral valve disease.
authors.affiliation: Maputo Heart Institute, Mozambique. eloi_marijon@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Eloi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marijon
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jani
authors.forename: Sébastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Voicu
authors.forename: Phalla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ou
mesh_terms: D016279:Atrial Function, Left; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002648:Child; D003187:Compliance; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012720:Severity of Illness Index