title: LA Strain for Categorization of LV Diastolic Dysfunction.
abstract: This study sought to observe the relationship between left atrial (LA) strain and left ventricular diastolic function and determine whether LA strain could be used to detect diastolic dysfunction (DD) and classify its degree when present.
  
  
  
  The assessment of diastolic function is complex and multiparametric because most conventional parameters do not follow the progression of DD. Strain imaging is an emerging index of LA function, with recent data demonstrating that LA strain is diminished in diastolic heart failure. However, LA strain is not part of the standard assessment of diastolic function. We hypothesized that LA strain decreases with worsening DD in a stepwise fashion and could thus be useful in evaluating DD.
  
  
  
  We performed a retrospective derivation and validation cohort study to derive and test LA strain thresholds for DD grades (0 to 3) in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (N = 229). Two-dimensional speckle tracking was used to measure peak LA strain, which was applied as a single parameter to classify DD. American Society of Echocardiography guidelines were used as the reference standard.
  
  
  
  In the derivation cohort (n = 90), peak LA strain was significantly different between DD groups, with gradual decreases seen with worsening DD. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis resulted in 3 distinct LA strain thresholds for categorization of DD grades, with good to excellent diagnostic utility (area under the curve: 0.86 to 0.91). In an independent validation group (n = 139) with a spectrum of diastolic function, 11 patients (8%) had indeterminate DD grades using standard criteria, whereas LA strain was measured in all patients and its cutoffs resulted in diagnostic accuracy up to 95%.
  
  
  
  LA strain measurements are feasible and allow accurate categorization of DD, because unlike the traditional parameters, it changes progressively with severity of DD. LA strain may become a useful tool for diastolic assessment in future clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Amita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Karima
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Addetia
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maffessanti
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mor-Avi
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois. Electronic address: rlang@bsd.uchicago.edu.
authors.forename: Roberto M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019540:Area Under Curve; D016279:Atrial Function, Left; D003971:Diastole; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013318:Stroke Volume; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
keywords: diastolic function; left atrial strain; left atrium; myocardial strain