title: Can left atrial strain and strain rate imaging be used to assess left atrial appendage function?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of left atrial strain (S) and strain rate (SR) imaging in assessing left atrial appendage (LAA) function.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 78 consecutive patients (35 females and 43 males; mean age 38 ± 15 years) referred for transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). LAA late emptying velocity (LAA-EV) was calculated. Real-time color Doppler myocardial velocity imaging (MVI) data were recorded from the LAA by TEE and the lateral wall of the left atrium (LA) by transthoracic echocardiography. Longitudinal S and SR were measured in the mid portion of the lateral LA wall and lateral LAA wall during the contractile period. LAA late systolic velocity (LSV) and LA-LSV were obtained from Doppler analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant positive correlation was detected between LAA-EV and MVI parameters (for LAA-S, r = 0.88, p < 0.001; for LAA-SR, r = 0.84, p < 0.001; for LAA-LSV, r = 0.83, p < 0.001; for LA-S, r = 0.84, p < 0.001; for LA-SR, r = 0.79, p < 0.001, and for LA-LSV, r = 0.70, p < 0.001). In addition, a significant positive correlation was detected between LAA-S and LA-S (r = 0.85, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that LA-S and LA-SR imaging is a beneficial method to evaluate LAA functions noninvasively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sakir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Ziya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Simsek
authors.forename: Fuat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gundogdu
authors.forename: Enbiya
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aksakal
authors.forename: Mehmet Emin
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kalkan
authors.forename: Yekta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gurlertop
authors.forename: Mustafa Kemal
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Erol
authors.forename: Sule
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karakelleoglu
mesh_terms: D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016279:Atrial Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology