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Effects of left ventricular systolic dysfunction on left atrial appendage and left atrial functions in patients with

Mustafa Cemri1, Timur Timurkaynak, Murat Ozdemir

  • 1Gazi University School of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Ankara, Turkey. mcemri@hotmail.com

Acta Cardiologica
|May 11, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Left ventricular systolic dysfunction significantly impairs left atrial and left atrial appendage function in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. This dysfunction also increases the risk of thrombus formation.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Echocardiography
  • Atrial Fibrillation Research

Background:

  • Left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction is suspected to negatively impact left atrial (LA) and left atrial appendage (LAA) functions.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for managing patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare LA and LAA functional parameters in patients with chronic nonvalvular AF, stratified by the presence or absence of LV systolic dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • Echocardiography was used to assess LV ejection fraction (EF) and various LA/LAA parameters in 28 patients with chronic nonvalvular AF.
  • Patients were divided into two groups: those with LV systolic dysfunction (Group I) and those with normal LV systolic function (Group II).

Main Results:

  • Group I (LV dysfunction) exhibited significantly larger LA diameter, lower LAA ejection velocity and fraction, and reduced pulmonary venous (PV) systolic velocity and PV systolic/diastolic velocity ratio compared to Group II.
  • While decreased LAA filling and PV diastolic velocities were observed in Group I, the difference was not statistically significant.
  • Thrombus and/or spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) were significantly more frequent in Group I (75%) than in Group II (18%).

Conclusions:

  • LV systolic dysfunction demonstrably impairs multiple LA and LAA function parameters.
  • LV systolic dysfunction is associated with a higher incidence of SEC and/or LA thrombus in patients with chronic nonvalvular AF.
Abstract

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