Quantitative assessment of left atrial function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathies using two-dimensional strain echocardiography and left atrium volume index.

Objective To evaluate the functions of the left atrium using two-dimensional strain(2DS)echocardiography and left atrium volume index(LAVI)in the patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM)and explore its clinical value.Methods There were 37 patients with HCM and 35 healthy subjects enrolled in our study.Left atrial passive ejection fraction(LAPEF)and left atrial active ejection fraction(LAAEF)were calculated using Simpson's method.The analysis for atrial longitudinal peak systolic strain(S),peak systolic stain rate(SRs),peak early diastolic stain rate(SRe)and peak late diastolic strain rate(SRa)on the interatrial septum and the lateral wall of the left atrium were performed using 2DS echocardiography.Results LAPEF and LAAEF significantly decreased compared with those in the control group(P 0.05,P 0.01).LAVI in HCM group increased compared with that of the control group(P 0.01).S,SRs,SRe and SRa of the interatrial septum and the lateral wall were lower in patients with HCM than those in control group(P 0.05).LAVI was negatively correlated to 2DS(r =0.73,P 0.05).Conclusion The left atrial functions decreased in patients with HCM.2DS and LAVI are readily obtained parameters that provide unique data about global and segmental atrial functions.