Evaluation of left atrial function in physiological and pathological left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy by real-time tri-plane strain rate imaging.

BACKGROUND

We investigated the difference between left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy caused by primary hypertension and physiological LV hypertrophy in athletes as seen in left atrial (LA) function by real-time tri-plane strain rate imaging.

HYPOTHESIS

A real-time tri-plane imaging technique using the same phase of the same cardiac circle was used to synchronously demonstrate the section of apical 4-chamber, 2-chamber, and apical left ventricle long axis.

METHODS

We measured standard Doppler echocardiographic quantitative analysis and the strain rate peak values of each LA wall in the systolic phase, in the early stage of diastole, and in the advanced stage of diastole and made a comparison of these values.

RESULTS

The alteration of configuration and function of the left atrium in hypertensive patients is an early sign of the myocardial damage caused by hypertension. Strain rate imaging could sensitively reflect LA function changes in the early stages of hypertension. While physiological, myocardial hypertrophy is a benign reaction, LA function is significantly different from that of hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

Real-time tri-plane strain rate imaging techniques could simultaneously analyze 3 sections, which shortens scanning time and depletes the influence of variations of different cardiac cycles on quantitative analysis of local myocardial segments of the left atrium. This would improve the comparability of myocardial movement of different segments so that we could more comprehensively and accurately evaluate the systolic and diastolic function of the left atrium in primary hypertension and physiological LV hypertrophy in athletes.