Non-invasive assessment of left atrial performance by echocardiographic modalities

The left atrium plays a pivotal role for left ventricular function and is c onsidered to serve not only as a reservoir for blood collection but also as a contractile pump. The evaluation of left atrial function is of great imp ortance in a variety of cardiovascular diseases. New echocardiographic moda lities have reliably quantitated left atrial function. A number of clinical studies employing these techniques have been performed in patients with mi tral valve disease, dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, concentric left ventricular hypertrophy and atrial fibrillation and have revealed a range of abnormalities of left atrial performance. The evidence that left atrial performance is altered in many cardiovascular disorders implies a significa nt role of left atrial function in clinical practice. Moreover, left atrial size and function have been ascribed a prognostic value for clinical outco me in a variety of clinical settings. Incorporation of assessment of left a trial performance into daily echocardiographic practice has the potential t o offer highly useful clinical information.