title: Feasibility of two-dimensional global longitudinal strain and strain rate imaging for the assessment of left atrial function: a study in subjects with a low probability of cardiovascular disease and normal exercise capacity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two-dimensional (2D) speckle imaging has shown that it could evaluate not only regional but also global strain (epsilon) and strain rate (SR) of the left and right ventricles. There are no data for global epsilon/SR imaging for left atrial (LA) function evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 54 subjects (37 men; mean age, 44 +/- 10 years) with normal treadmill exercise stress echocardiography and no coronary risk factors were enrolled. Global longitudinal LA epsilon/SR data obtained by 2D speckle imaging with automated software (EchoPAC, GE Medical) were compared with LA volumetric parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LA epsilon/SR imaging was acceptable in all patients. Bland-Altman analysis for these parameters showed no evidence of any systematic difference regarding inter- and intraobserver variabilities. Global longitudinal LA strain during systole and peak systolic global longitudinal LA SR were correlated with LA total emptying fraction (EF) (r = 0.399, P = 0.004; r = 0.366, P = 0.008). Global longitudinal LA strain during early diastole and peak early diastolic global longitudinal LA SR were correlated significantly with LA passive EF (r = 0.476, P < 0.001; r = 0.507, P < 0.001). Global longitudinal LA strain during late diastole and peak late diastolic global longitudinal LA SR were not correlated with LA active EF (r = 0.198, P = 0.163; r = 0.265, P = 0.060).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Global longitudinal LA epsilon/SR parameters determined by 2D speckle tracking echocardiography are feasible and reproducible indices for the evaluation of LA function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Eulji University Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Gyu
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sahng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: So-Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Young Sook
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yu Jeong
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hyeon Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jeong Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Soon Chang
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity