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Left atrium systolic and diastolic function assessment in hypertensive patients with preserved ejection fraction
Lucia Agoston-Coldea1, S Lupu, S Hicea
1"Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Department of Medical Sciences Cluj-Napoca Romania "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy 2-4 Clinicilor 400006 Cluj-Napoca Romania.
Insights
Left atrium remodeling is linked to diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients. Measuring left atrium volumes aids early detection of this condition, crucial for managing hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Physiology
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Left atrium remodeling is a common response to pressure overload in hypertension.
- Hypertensive patients often develop left ventricle diastolic dysfunction.
- Preserved systolic function does not exclude diastolic impairment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between left atrium remodeling and left ventricle diastolic dysfunction.
- To assess the utility of left atrium volume measurements in hypertensive patients.
- To identify early markers of diastolic dysfunction in hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 96 hypertensive patients and 96 controls.
- Echocardiography used to measure left atrium volumes (reservoir, conduit, pump phases).
- Assessment of standard left ventricle filling indices.
Main Results:
- Hypertensive patients showed significantly higher indexed left atrium volumes.
- Indexed left atrium volume strongly correlated with left ventricle diastolic function (p < 0.0001).
- Diastolic dysfunction severity impacted left atrium emptying volumes.
Conclusions:
- Left atrium indexed volume evaluation is essential for early diastolic dysfunction assessment in hypertensive patients.
- Echocardiographic measurement of left atrium volumes provides valuable diagnostic information.
- This method aids in the early detection and management of hypertensive heart disease.
Unlabelled:
Left atrium remodeling is a physiological response to pressure overload in hypertensive patients. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between left atrium remodeling and left ventricle diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients with preserved systolic function.
Materials And Methods:
We conducted a prospective study on 96 hypertensive patients (48.75 ± 5.01 years, 50 men) and 96 healthy control subjects (48.17 ± 8.52 years, 56 men), whose data were all evaluated by echocardiography measuring left atrium volumes during the reservoir,conduit and pump phases. Standard indices reflecting left ventricular filling were also assessed.
Results:
Medium left atrium volume indexed for body surface was significantly higher in hypertensive patients – 30.87 (6.38) mL/m² vs.21.72 (2.52) mL/m². Indexed left atrium volume was strongly associated with left ventricle diastolic function (p <0.0001). When compared to normal subjects, patients with mild diastolic dysfunction had lower corrected passive emptying volumes ( p < 0.0001) and higher corrected active emptying volumes (p = 0.001), thus leading to similar corrected total emptying volumes ( p < 0.001). However, patients with moderate diastolic dysfunction had smaller active emptying volumes, but higher passive and total emptying volumes when compared to normal controls and patients with mild diastolic dysfunction.
Conclusions:
Left atrium indexed volumes evaluation during the reservoir,conduit and pump phases proved to be essential for early diastolic dysfunction assessment in hypertensive patients.
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