Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 13, 2026
Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 20, 2022
Assessment of Left Atrial Function in Patients with Celiac Disease
Nermin Bayar1, Ayhan Hilmi Çekin2, Şakir Arslan1
1Cardiology Department, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
Insights
Patients with celiac disease (CD) show slower electrical conduction in the atria, increasing atrial fibrillation (AF) risk. However, their atrial mechanical functions remain preserved, indicating a potential link between CD and AF.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Celiac disease (CD) is linked to an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF).
- Impaired left atrial function is a known contributor to AF development.
- This study investigates left atrial electrical and mechanical functions in CD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess left atrial electrical function in celiac disease patients.
- To evaluate left atrial mechanical function in celiac disease patients.
- To determine the association between celiac disease and atrial function abnormalities.
Main Methods:
- Compared 71 celiac disease patients with 52 healthy controls.
- Measured P-wave dispersion (PWD) for atrial electrical function.
- Utilized tissue Doppler echocardiography for atrial conduction and electromechanical delay (EMD), and to estimate atrial volumes and functions.
Main Results:
- Celiac disease patients exhibited significantly increased PWD and EMD compared to controls.
- Interatrial, intra-left atrial, and intra-right atrial EMD were significantly higher in CD patients.
- Despite increased left atrial volume, mechanical functions (conduit, reservoir) were preserved in CD patients.
Conclusions:
- Celiac disease is associated with impaired atrial electrical conduction.
- Atrial mechanical functions are preserved in celiac disease patients.
- The findings suggest an elevated risk of atrial fibrillation in individuals with celiac disease.
Background:
There is some evidence suggesting increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with celiac disease (CD). Impaired left atrial function plays a significant role in the development of AF. This study aimed at assessing the electrical and mechanical functions of the left atrium in patients with CD.
Methods:
A total of 71 patients with biopsy-proven, antibody-positive CD and 52 age-matched healthy controls were included in this prospective study. P-wave dispersion (PWD) was measured to assess the electrical functions of the left atrium through the use of surface electrocardiography. A tissue Doppler echocardiography was performed to determine the atrial conduction and electromechanical delay (EMD) time. To evaluate the mechanical functions of the left atrium, maximum, minimum, and presystolic atrial volumes were estimated to calculate the contractile, conduit, and reservoir functions.
Results:
In terms of transthoracic echocardiographic parameters, CD and control subjects were not significantly different. However, as compared to controls, patients with CD had significantly increased PWD (median 52 ms [interquartile range 46-58 ms] vs. 38 [36-40], P < 0.001). Also, significantly higher interatrial (49 ms [32-60] vs. 26 ms [22-28], P < 0.001), intra-left atrial (26 ms [17-44] vs. 14 ms [12-18], P < 0.001), and intra-right atrial (15 ms [8-22] vs. 10 ms [8-14], P < 0.001) EMD was found among CD subjects than controls. Despite an increase in the left atrial volume in patients with CD, conduit and reservoir functions were comparable.
Conclusions:
Although atrial mechanical functions are preserved in patients with CD, a slower electrical conduction was found, suggesting an increased risk of AF in this group of patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
01:22Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
01:24Cardiac Catheterization III: Left Heart Catheterization
01:23Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests
01:30Dysrhythmias V: Evaluating Dysrhythmias
01:17Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography
Indications: Echocardiography is utilized to diagnose heart failure, valve disorders, and myocardial infarction. It also assesses cardiac structures' size, shape, and motion,...