title: Left atrial anatomy and function after conversion from atrial fibrillation in hypertrophic hearts.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy on left atrial (LA) electrical and mechanical function after cardioversion atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) of brief duration. Study group A included 100 patients with a first diagnosis of hypertension who had a moderate LV hypertrophy. The patient population included 64 men and 36 women with a mean age of 55 +/-7 years who were hospitalized because of A-Fib and were cardioverted with external DC shock. Control group B included 100 patients without cardiac hypertrophy cardioverted because of lone A-Fib. Atrial function and size were assessed by Doppler echocardiography and the following parameters were measured: transmitral peak A velocity, atrial filling fraction, atrial ejection force, peak E velocity, deceleration time, and isovolumic relaxation time, LA maximal and minimal volume, and LV cardiac mass index. Baseline echocardiography showed that LA diameters and volumes were enlarged in all patients during A-Fib. After the restoration of sinus rhythm LA diameters and volumes decreased and the reduction was more evident in group B compared to group A. LA function as a continuous variable was negatively related to LV mass index (r = -0.77), LA diameter (r = -0.66 and r = -0.69 for the superoinferior diameter), LA maximal volume (r = -0.61) and LA minimal volume (r = -0.55) (all p<0.01). Atrial ejection force as a continuous variable was positively related to age (r =0.78), peak A wave velocity (r =0.71), systolic blood pressure (r =0.51), and IVRT (r =0.41) (all p<0.01). Hypertrophy influenced the recovery of atrial function after cardioversion of A-Fib. Atrial function was reduced in patients with LV hypertrophy even after A-Fib of brief duration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. mattioli.anna.vittoria@unimo.it
authors.forename: Anna Vittoria
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Mattioli
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonatti
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mattioli
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged