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Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
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Published on: July 20, 2022

Left atrial volume is associated with inflammation and atherosclerosis in patients with kidney disease

Anupama K Rao1, Arjang Djamali, Claudia E Korcarz

  • 1Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Section of Nephrology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792, USA.

Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.)
|March 1, 2008
PubMed

Insights

In advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), left atrial volume (LAV) is linked to inflammation, atherosclerosis, and impaired heart function. Higher LAV indicates increased cardiovascular risk in CKD patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Nephrology
  • Echocardiography

Background:

  • Left atrial volume (LAV) predicts cardiovascular events in the general population.
  • The predictors of LAV in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate predictors of left atrial volume (LAV) in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD).
  • To determine if increasing LAV identifies increased cardiovascular risk in CKD patients.

Main Methods:

  • Transthoracic echocardiography was used to measure LAV in CKD patients.
  • Carotid intima-media thickness and lipoproteins were assessed.
  • Univariate and multivariable regression analyses were performed to evaluate relationships with LAV.

Main Results:

  • Systolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein, carotid intima-media thickness, peak transmitral E-wave, and mitral regurgitation correlated with LAV.
  • LAV was higher in patients with a history of stroke or significant coronary artery stenosis.
  • High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), transmitral E-wave velocity, and stroke history independently predicted LAV.

Conclusions:

  • In advanced CKD, LAV is associated with inflammation, increased early transmitral filling velocities, and atherosclerosis.
  • These factors suggest that increasing LAV may indicate heightened cardiovascular risk in CKD patients.
Abstract

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