title: Correlation of right atrial appendage velocity with left atrial appendage velocity and brain natriuretic Peptide.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Left atrial appendage (LAA) anatomy and function have been well characterized both in healthy and diseased people, whereas relatively little attention has been focused on the right atrial appendage (RAA). We sought to evaluate RAA flow velocity and to compare these parameters with LAA indices and with a study of biomarkers, such as brain natriuretic peptide, among patients with sinus rhythm (SR) and atrial fibrillation (AF).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a series of 79 consecutive patients referred for transesophageal echocardiography, 43 patients (23 with AF and 20 controls) were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AF was associated with a decrease in flow velocity for both LAA and RAA [LAA velocity-SR vs. AF: 61 ± 22 vs. 29 ± 18 m/sec (p < 0.01), RAA velocity-SR vs. AF: 46 ± 20 vs. 19 ± 8 m/sec (p < 0.01)]. Based on simple linear regression analysis, LAA velocity and RAA velocity were positively correlated, and RAA velocity was inversely correlated with brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AF was associated with decreased RAA and LAA flow velocities. RAA velocity was found to be positively correlated with LAA velocity and negatively correlated with BNP. The plasma BNP concentration may serve as a determinant of LAA and RAA functions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kosin University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Bu-Kyung
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Jae-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyun-Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung-Joo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Tae-Joon
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Cha