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.
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.
Kim
Dong Gyu
DG
Department of Internal Medicine, Eulji University Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Lee
Kyung Jin
KJ
Lee
Sahng
S
Jeong
So-Yeon
SY
Lee
Young Sook
YS
Choi
Yu Jeong
YJ
Yoon
Hyeon Soo
HS
Kim
Jeong Hee
JH
Jeong
Kyung Tae
KT
Park
Soon Chang
SC
Park
Mira
M
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