F. Nakao et al., Evaluation of left atrial function by the functional volume change curve derived from Doppler flow spectra, JPN CIRC J, 65(11), 2001, pp. 953-957
Citations number
28
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
The objective of this study was to clarify the left atrial (LA) reservoir a
nd booster pump function in patients with left ventricular (LV) diastolic d
ysfunction. To determine LA reservoir and booster pump function, a new algo
rithm to determine LA functional volume change curve (FVC) was developed fr
om Doppler flow spectra of pulmonary venous flow and LV inflow by transthor
acic echocardiography in 110 patients. Patients were classified into normal
(N), and abnormal (AB) and pseudonormal (PN) groups on the basis of their
Doppler flow patterns. From the indices of FVC, atrial reservoir volume (AR
V), passive emptying volume (PEV) and active emptying volume (AEV) were obt
ained. ARV/stroke volume (SV) was increased in the AB group, but decreased
in the PN group compared with N (N, 0.61 +/-0.09; AB, 0.73 +/-0.10; PN, 0.5
2 +/-0.13, p<0.05). PEV/SV was significantly decreased in AB, but increased
in PN compared with N (N, 0.27<plus/minus>0.07; AB, 0.19 +/-0.07; PN, 0.31
+/-0.18, p<0.05). AEV/SV was significantly increased in AB, but decreased
in PN compared with N (N, 0.41<plus/minus>0.08; AB, 0.56 +/-0.10. PN, 0.26
+/-0.19, p<0.05). Thus, in patients with an abnormal relaxation pattern, th
e LA reservoir and booster pump function are augmented, but in patients wit
h a pseudonormal pattern, both LA reservoir and booster pump function are d
eteriorated, suggesting a vulnerability to pulmonary congestion.