Effect of left atrial compliance on pulmonary artery pressure: a case report.
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.
Marijon
Eloi
E
Maputo Heart Institute, Mozambique. eloi_marijon@yahoo.fr
Jani
Dinesh
D
Voicu
Sébastian
S
Ou
Phalla
P
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