Reversible Changes of Left Atrial Function during Pregnancy Assessed by Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography.
BACKGROUND
Left ventricular diastolic function is impaired during pregnancy. However, changes in left atrial (LA) function remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate changes in LA function during pregnancy using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE).


RESULTS
50 pregnant and 50 healthy nulliparous (control group) women were enrolled in this study. All pregnant women were followed up postpartum in sixth-month. The LA maximum volume, LA minimal volume and LA preatrial contraction volume were obtained using biplane modified Simpson's method. LA filling volume, LA expansion index, LA ejection fraction, passive volume, passive emptying index, active volume, and active emptying index were calculated. LA longitudinal systolic strain (SS), systolic strain rate (s-SR), early diastolic strain rate (e-SR), and late diastolic strain rate (a-SR) were obtained by 2DSTE. Compared to the control group, the reservoir function was increased in pregnant patients (P<0.05); conduit function was decreased in pregnant patients (P<0.05); booster pump function was increased in pregnant patients (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the control group and postpartum group.


CONCLUSIONS
LA reservoir and booster pump function were increased, while conduit function was decreased during pregnancy using 2DSTE. The changes were reversible. 2DSTE can easily assess LA function during pregnancy with good repeatability.
Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Guang
G
Song
Department of Obstetrics, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Jing
J
Liu
Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Weidong
W
Ren
Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Wei
W
Qiao
Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Jing
J
Zhang
Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Ying
Y
Zhan
Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Wenjing
W
Bi
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D016279:Atrial Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D002306:Cardiac Volume / Q000502:physiology; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology