title: Atrial electromechanical coupling intervals in pregnant subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate atrial conduction abnormalities obtained by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and electrocardiogram analysis in pregnant subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 pregnant subjects (28 ± 4 years) and 30 controls (28 ± 3 years) were included. Systolic and diastolic left ventricular (LV) function was measured using conventional echocardiography and TDI. Inter-atrial, intraatrial and intra-left atrial electromechanical coupling (PA) intervals were measured with TDI. P-wave dispersion (PD) was calculated from a 12-lead electrocardiogram.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atrial electromechanical coupling at the septal and left lateral mitral annulus (PA septal, PA lateral) was significantly prolonged in pregnant subjects (62.1 ± 2.7 vs 55.3 ±3.2 ms, p < 0.001; 45.7 ± 2.5 vs 43.1 ± 2.7 ms, p < 0.001, respectively). Inter-atrial (PA lateral - PA tricuspid), intra-atrial (PA septum - PA tricuspid) and intra-left atrial (PA lateral - PA septum) electromechanical coupling intervals, maximum P-wave (Pmax) duration and PD were significantly longer in the pregnant subjects (26.4 ± 4.0 vs 20.2 ± 3.6 ms, p < 0.001; 10.0 ± 2.0 vs 8.0 ± 2.6 ms, p = 0.002; 16.4 ± 3.3 vs 12.2 ± 3.0 ms, p < 0.001; 103.1 ± 5.4 vs 96.8 ± 7.4 ms, p ± 0.001; 50.7 ± 6.8 vs 41.6 ± 5.5 ms, p < 0.001, respectively). We found a significant positive correlation between inter-atrial and intraleft atrial electromechanical coupling intervals and Pmax (r = 0.282, p = 0.029, r = 0.378, p = 0.003, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that atrial electromechanical coupling intervals and PD, which are predictors of AF, were longer in pregnant subjects and this may cause an increased risk of AF in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Altun
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Adiyaman University Training and Research Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tasolar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emïne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gazï
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysenur Cakir
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gungor
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Temïz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barutcu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gurkan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yucel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Colkesen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ufuk
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akkoy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016275:Atrial Function / Q000502:physiology*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*