Assessment Of Left Atrial Early Function In Patients With Essential Hypertension By Speckle Tracking Imaging

Objective:To assess the left atrial early function in patients with essential hypertension(EH) by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (ST1). Methods:Sixty hypertensive patients were selected without left ventricular hypertrophy and expansion. The subjects with hypertension were divided into two groups based on the left atrial index (LAI), non-Left atrial enlargement (NLAE) group (n=30), left atrial enlargement (LAE) group (n=30), and30control subjects respectively. Two-dimensional images were recorded from the left ventricular apical four-chamber view, three-chamber view, two-chamber view and left ventricular long axis view, to retain images for offline analysis respectively. The systolic, early and late diastolic peak strain rate (Ssr, Esr and Asr) curve was auquired in each LA segment(anterior, posterior, lateral, inferior and septal)by STI. Calculated the average strain rate (mSRs, mSRe, mSRa). The LA maximal, minimal and pre-systolic volume (LAVmax, LAVmin and LAVp), LA passive ejection fraction (LAPEF), LA active ejection fraction (LAAEF) were measured by Simpson.Results: Compared with control group, the Ssr, Esr were decreased significantly in groups of NLAE and LAE, Asr increased significantly (P<0.05). In control group, the strain rate of bottom segment was lower than the basal segment (P<0.05).The motion regular of several segments disappeared in NLAE and LAE group (P>0.05). A significant relation between mSRa and LAAEF in LAE group (r=0.735,P=0.000).Conclusions:The motion regular of LA systolic and diastolic function were weakened and disappeared. The pump function was increased in patients with essential hypertension at early time.