Assessment Of Left Atrial Function In Patients With Different Filling Patterns Of Left Ventricle By Strain Rate

Objective: To evaluate left atrial function in patients with different filling patterns of the left ventricular using strain rate imaging (SRI), and to explore the feasibility, accuracy,superiority and clinical application value of strain rate imaging technology in evaluating left atrial function.Methods: 57 patients (25 males and 32 females,mean age of 57.13±7.40 years) with abnormal filling patterns of the left ventricle were divided into three groups as: relaxation drop group (21 cases), pseudonormal filling group (19 cases) and restrictive filling group (17 cases), according to different filling patterns of the left ventricle. 21 normal subjects (9 males and 12 females, mean age of 53.76±7.65 years) were selected as control group. All subjects were undentaken regular echocardiographic examination and strain rate imaging technology. For each case left atrial wall peak systolic strain rate (SSR), early diastolic strain rate peak (ESR), diastolic late strain rate peak (ASR) were recorded, then were analyzed and compared among groups.Results: Difference of early diastolic strain rate peak among four filling pattern groups was statistically significant (P<0.05), and the early diastolic strain rate peak value of pseudonormal filling group was smaller than normal fillIing group while bigger than the other two groups. Except for comparison between the normal and pseudonormal filling group, difference of late diastolic strain rate peak in other groups was significant (P<0.05), the value of late diastolic strain rate peak in relaxation drop group was increased while droped in other abnormal filling groups. The values of peak systolic strain rate were significantly different except comparing between relaxation drop group and pseudonormal filling group, and decreased gradually following left ventricular function damage.Conclusion: Left atrial function would change along with left ventricular function damage and different left ventricular filling patterns, which could be evaluated accurately by application of SRI, and indirectly reflect the damage degree of left ventricular function.