Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 21, 2026
Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 20, 2022
Left atrial function assessed by left atrial strain in patients with left circumflex branch culprit acute myocardial
Dong Hyun Lee1, Tae-Ho Park1, Jung Eun Lee1
1Department of Cardiology, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Insights
Left atrial strain (LAS) was reduced in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with left circumflex artery (LCX) culprit lesions. This suggests impaired left atrial function due to ischemia in these specific AMI cases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Echocardiography
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
Background:
- The left atrium (LA) is crucial for diastolic function.
- The impact of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) on atrial ischemia is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if left atrial (LA) function is further compromised in AMI patients with a culprit lesion in the left circumflex artery (LCX).
Main Methods:
- Observational cohort study involving 68 AMI patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.
- Echocardiography assessed left ventricular diastolic function, LA volume, and LA function.
- Speckle tracking echocardiography measured systolic (LAS) and late diastolic (LAA) LA strain.
Main Results:
- Global LAS strain was significantly lower in patients with LCX culprit lesions (20.1 ± 8.9%) compared to other vessels (P = 0.007).
- No significant difference was observed in LA volume index (P = 0.093).
- Other echocardiographic parameters and Doppler measurements showed no significant differences.
Conclusions:
- Global LAS strain is reduced in AMI patients with LCX culprit lesions.
- This finding suggests impaired LA function secondary to ischemic insult in the LCX territory.
- LA volume index did not differ, highlighting strain as a sensitive indicator of dysfunction.
Introduction:
Although left atrium (LA) has played an important role in diastole, ischemic insult of atrium in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has not been clearly evaluated.
Methods:
We hypothesized that LA function would be further decreased in AMI patients with a culprit lesion in the left circumflex branch (LCX). This was an observational cohort study in a single university hospital. Echocardiography was performed to evaluate left ventricular diastolic function, LA volume, and LA function. Systolic (LAS ) and late diastolic (LAA ) LA strain were measured using speckle tracking echocardiography.
Results:
Sixty-eight AMI patients treated with emergent or urgent percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled. Global LAS strain was significantly lower in patients with a culprit lesion in the LCX than culprit lesions in other vessels (left anterior descending, 27.3 ± 6.8%; left circumflex, 20.1 ± 8.9%; right coronary artery, 23.3 ± 6.5%; P = 0.007). LA volume index did not differ significantly (P = 0.093). Other clinical and conventional echocardiographic parameters, including Doppler measurements, did not differ significantly.
Conclusions:
Global LAS strain was lower in AMI patients with a culprit lesion in the LCX than those with culprit lesions in other vessels, without any significant difference in LA volume index. The lower global LAS strain might suggest decreased LA function resulting from ischemic insult by AMI with culprit lesions in the LCX.
More Related Videos
12:03Myocardial Infarction and Functional Outcome Assessment in Pigs
Published on: April 25, 2014
11:50High-frequency High-resolution Echocardiography: First Evidence on Non-invasive Repeated Measure of Myocardial Strain, Contractility, and Mitral Regurgitation in the Ischemia-reperfused Murine Heart
Published on: July 9, 2010
Related Concept Videos
01:30Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies
01:22Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
01:24Cardiac Catheterization III: Left Heart Catheterization