Assessment of left atrial function using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging in patients with essential hypertension / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate the structure and function of left atrium (LA) in patients with essential hypertension by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) and two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI). Methods: Totally 70 essential hypertension patients and 35 healthy volunteers (control group) were enrolled. The patients were divided into no left atrial enlargement (NLAE) group and left atrial enlargement (LAE) group (each n=35) according to left atrial index. Using RT-3DE, the maximal, minimal and pre-systolic LA volume (LAVmax, LAVmin and LAVpre) were measured, the stroke volume, total ejection fraction, active ejection fraction and passive ejection fraction of LA (LASV, LAEF, LAaEF, LApEF) were calculated. Using 2D-STI, the mean peak strain rates in systolic, early-diastolic, end-diastolic phase (mSRs, mSRe, mSRa) of LA were calculated. The parameters among the 3 groups were compared, the correlation between 2D-STI and RT-3DE measurement parameters were analyzed. Results: Compared with control group, LAaEF and mSRa increased, while LApEF, mSRs and mSRe decreased in NLAE group (all P<0.05). Compared with NLAE group, LAVmax, LAVpre, LAVmin, LASV, LAaEF and mSRa increased, while LAEF, LApEF, mSRs and mSRe decreased in LAE group (all P<0.05). Significant positive correlations were found between mSRs and LAEF (r=0.70, 0.77), mSRe and LApEF (r=0.80, 0.82) as well as mSRa and LAaEF (r=0.87, 0.89) in NLAE and LAE group (all P<0.01). Conclusion: LA function has changed before LA geometry changes in essential hypertension patients. RT-3DE and 2D-STI play important role in assessing LA function of essential hypertension patients.