title: Left atrial ejection force correlates with left atrial strain and volume-based functional properties as assessed by three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (from the MAGYAR-Healthy Study).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Three-dimensional (3D) speckle tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) is a novel method for assessment of left atrial (LA) volumes and function without geometrical assumptions. 3DSTE allows detailed assessment of LA features including volume measurements, strain assessments and calculation of LA ejection force (LAEF). LA strain and volume-based functional parameters originate from the same 3D dataset, but assessment of LAEF requires more data including measurement of mitral annular dimensions and Doppler-derived inflow velocities. The present study was designed to find correlations between LAEF and 3DSTE-derived LA volume-based functional properties and strain parameters in healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population comprised 34 randomly selected healthy subjects (age 36.1±11.2 years, 15 men) in sinus rhythm, all of whom had undergone standard two-dimensional transthoracic Doppler echocardiographic study extended with 3DSTE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mitral annulus diameter-based LAEF correlated with global LA peak circumferential (r=0.39, p=0.02), longitudinal (r=0.32, p=0.05) and area (r=0.43, p=0.01) strain, total atrial stroke volume (r=0.30, p=0.05) and total atrial emptying fraction (r=0.31, p=0.05) characterizing (systolic) LA reservoir function and global LA 3D strain at atrial contraction (r=-0.44, p=0.01) and active atrial emptying fraction (r=0.36, p=0.04) characterizing (diastolic) LA contraction function (booster pump phase).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Complex LA functional assessment can be provided by 3DSTE, including calculation of LAEF and volume-based and strain functional properties, with significant correlations between these parameters.
authors: 2nd Department of Medicine and Cardiology Centre, Medical Faculty, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors: Györgyike Ágnes
authors: GÁ
authors: Piros
authors: 2nd Department of Medicine and Cardiology Centre, Medical Faculty, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors: Péter
authors: P
authors: Domsik
authors: 2nd Department of Medicine and Cardiology Centre, Medical Faculty, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Kalapos
authors: 1st Department of Medicine, Medical Faculty, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors: Csaba
authors: C
authors: Lengyel
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Orosz
authors: 2nd Department of Medicine and Cardiology Centre, Medical Faculty, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors: Tamás
authors: T
authors: Forster
authors: 2nd Department of Medicine and Cardiology Centre, Medical Faculty, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary. Electronic address: nemes.attila@med.u-szeged.hu.
authors: Attila
authors: A
authors: Nemes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016279:Atrial Function, Left; D004452:Echocardiography; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
keywords: Aurícula esquerda; Correlation; Correlação; Ecocardiografia de speckle tracking; Ejection force; Força de ejeção; Function; Função; Left atrium; Speckle tracking echocardiography; Three-dimensional; Tridimensional