Posterior aortic wall motion and left atrial volume changes.

The motion characteristic of the posterior aortic wall has been used in precordial M-mode echocardiography as a parameter of cardiac function. However, the determinants of this characteristic motion pattern of the aorta are still unknown. In this study the posterior aortic wall motion was studied angiographically as it is related to left atrial volume changes. 21 patients with various heart diseases served as the study group. 18 patients were in sinus rhythm, 3 patients in atrial fibrillation. We found an excellent agreement between left atrial volume changes and the movement of the posterior aortic wall. The correlation coefficient between both parameters ranged from .73 to .95 irrespective of the underlying heart disease and heart rhythm. From this study one can conclude that left atrial volume changes are reflected by the motion of the posterior aortic wall.