Impaired Left Atrial Conduit Function in Coronary Artery Disease Patients With Poorly Controlled Diabetes: Two-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiographic Study

The Added Value of Atrial Strain Assessment in Clinical Practice

Speckle tracking echocardiography has emerged as a sensitive tool to analyze myocardial function with improved diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value. Left atrial strain assessment has become a novel imaging method in cardiology with superior prognostic value compared to conventional left atrial volume indices. Left atrial function is divided into three phases, reservoir function being the most important. This review summarizes the added value of speckle tracking echocardiography derived left atrial strain assessment in clinical practice. Recently published data suggest the prognostic value of left atrial reservoir function in heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke and valvular heart disease. Furthermore, left atrial reservoir strain proved to be a predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the general population. Thus, routine assessment of left atrial function can be an optimal strategy to improve cardiovascular risk prediction and supplement the current risk prediction models.

Left atrial function in diabetes: does it help?

Left atrial (LA) structural, functional and mechanical changes have important role in development of diabetic cardiomyopathy and it was discovered that LA remodeling has important prognostic role in the patients with diabetes (DM). Previously the focus of echocardiographic studies in DM population was on the left ventricular structure and function, but the atrioventricular coupling was proved to be one of the main predictors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in DM patients. Each phase of LA cycle has determinant role in the atrioventricular coupling and therefore the accurate assessment of LA phasic function gained importance over last decade. The failure of any of the three LA phasic functions (reservoir, conduit or contractile) leads potentially to LA dilatation, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, atrial fibrillation and ultimately development of heart failure with preserved (or even reduced) ejection fraction. Even though LA phasic function has not been extensively studied in DM population, it is reasonable to hypothesize that LA dysfunction is very frequent in these patients, considering the high prevalence of atrial fibrillation and heart failure in these individuals. In research and clinical purposes two techniques have been used for determination of LA phasic function: volumetric and strain. Although these methods fundamentally differ, with their own advantages and limitations, they also provide comparable results that can direct our therapeutic approach in DM patients. Namely, not only that LA function represents an independent predictor of cardiovascular outcome in DM patients, but also it has been also associated with parameters of glycemic control. This review summarized the current knowledge regarding LA phasic function in DM patients.

Compromised left atrial function and increased size predict raised cavity pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

This meta-analysis assesses left atrial (LA) cavity and myocardial function measurements that predict pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP).

METHODS

PubMed-MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Central Registry were searched up to December 2018 for studies on the relationship of LA diameter, LA indexed volume (LAVI max, LAVI min), peak atrial longitudinal (PALS), peak atrial contraction (PACS) strain and total emptying fraction (LAEF) with PCWP. Eighteen studies with 1343 patients were included. Summary sensitivity and specificity (with 95% CI) for evaluation of diagnostic accuracy and the best cut-off values for different LA indices in predicting raised PCWP were estimated using summary receiver operating characteristic analysis.

RESULTS

The pooled analysis showed association between PCWP and LA diameter: Cohen's d = 0·87, LAVI max: d = 0·92 and LAVI min: d = 1·0 (P<0·001 for all). A stronger correlation was found between PCWP and PALS: d = 1·26, and PACS: d = 1·62, total EF d = 1·22 (P<0·0001 for all). PALS ≤19% had a summary sensitivity of 80% (65-90) and summary specificity of 77% (52-92), positive likelihood ratio (LR+) 3·74, negative likelihood ratio (LR-) <0·25 and DOR > 15·1 whereas LAVI ≥34 ml m^-2 had summary sensitivity of 75% (55-89) and summary specificity 77% (57-90), with LR+ >3, LR- 0·32 and DOR >10·1.

CONCLUSIONS

Compromised LA myocardial function and increased size predict raised cavity pressure. These results should assist in optimum follow-up of patients with fluctuating LA pressure.

Assessment of the Right and Left Atrial Functions at Midterm After Surgical and Device Atrial Septal Defect Closure: A 2-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiographic Study

OBJECTIVES

The available literature lacks data on the comparison of the functions of the right atrium (RA) and left atrium (LA) between surgical atrial septal defect (ASD) closure and percutaneous device ASD closure at follow-up durations of longer than 1 year. We sought to evaluate the RA and LA functions in patients who underwent surgical or device ASD closure between 1 and 5 years postprocedurally.

METHODS

The study population included 30 patients who underwent device ASD closure and 30 who underwent surgical ASD closure, who were matched for the procedural time, age, and sex, in addition to 30 control participants. The RA and LA functions were evaluated with 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography.

RESULTS

The LA systolic and early diastolic strain and strain rate values and the RA early diastolic strain rate in the device closure group were more likely to be abnormal than in the control group. The RA systolic and late diastolic strain and strain rate values, the RA early diastolic strain rate, and the LA early diastolic strain in the surgical closure group were more likely to be abnormal than in the control group. The RA systolic strain and strain rate in the surgical closure group were more likely to be abnormal than in the device closure group.

CONCLUSIONS

The LA reservoir and conduit functions and the RA contraction function in the patients who underwent device ASD closure and all of the RA functions and the LA conduit function in the patients who underwent surgical ASD closure were more likely to be abnormal than those in the control participants. The RA reservoir function in the surgical closure group was more likely to be abnormal than that in the device closure group.