title: Relationship of left ventricular size to left atrial and left atrial appendage size in sinus rhythm patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thromboembolic events are a frequent cause of mortality in patients with congestive heart failure. The aim of or study was to evaluate the relationship of left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) to left atrial (LA) size and left atrial appendage (LAA) size in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy in sinus rhythm, as well as to determine the prevalence of thrombi in LV and LA /LAA.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cross-sectional study, conducted from December 2009 until December 2011. The study included 95 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy in sinus rhythm. Patients with swallowing problems, acute myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation/flatter, severe systolic dysfunction, and/or patients who were taking oral anticoagulation therapy were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean patient age was 58.6 ± 12.2 years and 68.4% were men. Mean LVEDD of our population was 66.5 ± 6.5 mm, while mean LA atrium, LA volume and LAA maximal area were 46 ± 5.1 mm, 87.2 ± 38.7 cm(3) and 4.7 ± 1.2 cm(2), respectively. LA diameter (p<0.001) and LAA maximal area (p=0.01) showed to be independent predictors of LV size. LV thrombus was detected in 13 (13.7%) patients, while LAA thrombus in 46 (48.4%) patients of our study population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, dilated LV size is associated with enlarged LA and LAA size. On the other hand, dilation of LV, LA and LAA is related to high prevalence of left chamber cardiac thrombi.
authors: Clinic of Internal Medicine, University Clinical Center of Kosova, Prishtine, Kosovo.
authors: Aurora
authors: A
authors: Bakalli
authors: Ljubica
authors: L
authors: Georgievska-Ismail
authors: Nebi
authors: N
authors: Musliu
authors: Dardan
authors: D
authors: Koçinaj
authors: Zaim
authors: Z
authors: Gashi
authors: Nexhmi
authors: N
authors: Zeqiri
keywords: dilated cardiomyopathy; left atrial appendage area.; thrombus