ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate changes of left atrial (LA) structure and function in non-alchoholic cirrhosis patients with real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) and two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI).Methods Totally 60 cirrhosis patients (cirrhosis group) and 16 healthy volunteers (control group) were enrolled,and the patients were divided into Child-Pugh A,B and C subgroup according to liver function.RT-3DE was used to obtain LA diameters (LAD),maximum volume (LAVmax),pre-contraction volume (LAVpre) and minimum volume (LAVmin).LA total emptying fraction (LATEF),expansion index (LAEI),active emptying fraction (LAAEF) and passive emptying fraction (LAPEF) were calculated.2D-STI was used to measure mean peak longitudinal strain of LA in systolic,earlydiastolic,end-diastolic phase (mSs,mSe,mSa)and strain rate of systolicm (mSRs,mSRe,mSRa),and LA stiffness (LAst) were calculated.Results Compared with those in control group,LAD,LAV LAVpre,LAVmin and LAst increased in Child-Pugh A,B and C subgroup (all P＜0.05),while LAPEF,mSe and mSRe decreased in Child-Pugh B and C subgroup (all P＜0.05),LATEF,LAEI,mSs,mSRs,LAAEF,mSa,mSRa increased in Child-Pugh A and B subgroup (all P＜0.05).Child-Pugh C subgroup showed increased LATEF,LAEI,LAAEF and decreased mSs,mSRs (both P＜0.05).LASt had negative correlation with LAEI,mSs,mSRs,LAPEF,mSe and mSRe,whereas no significant correlation was found between LASt and LATEF,LAAEF,LAV LAVpre,LAVmin,mSa nor mSRa.Conclusion The dysfunction of LA varies with liver function in non-alcoholic cirrhosis patients.RT-3DE and 2D-STI can detect and evaluate dysfunction of LA in early stage.