Evaluation of the changes of left atrial function in patients with hypertension by left atrial volume tracking method / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To probe into the clinical value of left atrial(LA) volme tracking method (LAVT) on the assessment of left atrial function in patients with hypertension. Methods Thirty-one patients with hypertension and 31 control subjects were involved. Images of apical two-chamber and four-chamber views were obtained by two-dimensional echocardiography. LA maximal volume (LAVmax), LA minimal volume (LAVmin), LA presystolic volume (LAVpre), systolic LA filling rate (dv/dtS), early diastolic LA emptying rate (dv/dtE) and late diastolic LA emptying rate (dv/dtA) were derived using LAVT. LA passive emptying volume(LAVp), LA passive emptying fraction(LAVpEF), LA active emptying volume(LAVa), LA active emptying fraction (LAVaEF), LA total emptying volume (LAVt), LA total emptying fraction(LAVtEF) were calculated. All volume measurements were corrected to body surface area (LAVI). Results There were significant differences in the LAVImax, LAVImin, LAVIpre, LAVpEF, LAVIa, LAVIt,dv/dtS, dv/dtA between hypertensive patients and control subjects(P <0.05~0.001), but no significant differences were found in the LAVp, LAVaEF, LAVtEF,dv/dtE between the two groups. The LAVImax has shown significant positive correlation with LAVIp, LAVIa and LAVIt(r = 0.588~0.812, P <0.001). LAVaEF has shown positive correlation with the LAVtEF(r = 0.833, P<0.001), whereas LAVpEF has not(r = 0.420, P <0.01). There was a significant positive correlation with LAVImax and LAVIpre(r = 0.908, P <0.001), LAVIpre and LAVIa(r = 0.689, P <0.001) ,dv/dtE and LAVIp(r = 0.690, P <0.001),dv/dtA and LAVIa(r = 0.600, P <0.001). Conclusions In hypertensive patients,left atrial reservoir function and booster pump function increase, while left atrial conduit function decreases. LAVT has a potential ability to evaluate left atrial function.