title: Three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography allows detailed evaluation of left atrial function in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy--insights from the MAGYAR-Path Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) represents a generalized myopathic process affecting both ventricular and atrial myocardium. Reduced left atrial (LA) function was demonstrated in HCM by different methods. Three-dimensional (3D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) has just been introduced for the evaluation of LA. This study was designed to compare 3DSTE-derived LA volumetric and strain parameters in HCM with healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study comprised 23 consecutive HCM patients (mean age: 48.5 ± 15.1 years, 14 men). Their results were compared to 23 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Complete two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and 3DSTE have been performed in all cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Calculated LA maximum (66.4 ± 20.4 mL vs. 36.0 ± 6.1 mL, P < 0.0001) and minimum (39.2 ± 19.1 vs. 16.0 ± 4.6 mL, P < 0.0001) volumes and LA volume before atrial contraction (53.6 ± 19.9 vs. 24.0 ± 6.2 mL, P < 0.0001) were significantly increased in HCM patients. Atrial stroke volumes respecting cardiac cycles proved to be increased, while emptying fractions were decreased in subjects with HCM. Mean global radial (-12.2 ± 6.7% vs. -19.6 ± 11.7, P < 0.05), longitudinal (26.5 ± 16.5% vs. 29.8 ± 12.1%, P < 0.05) and 3D strain (-6.1 ± 4.4% vs. -12.5 ± 10.2%, P < 0.05) proved to be significantly reduced in HCM patients as compared with matched controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography allows detailed evaluation of LA (dys) function in HCM by volumetric and strain measurements.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Medicine and Cardiology Center, Medical Faculty, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Domsik
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalapos
authors.forename: Számi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chadaide
authors.forename: Róbert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sepp
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hausinger
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Forster
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nemes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016279:Atrial Function, Left / Q000502:physiology; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: echocardiography; function; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; left atrium; speckle tracking; three-dimensional