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Assessment of left atrial functions in cardiac syndrome X
M Kuzeytemiz1, E Tenekecioglu, M Yilmaz
1Cardiology Clinic, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Research and Education Hospital, Bursa, Turkey. erhantenekecioglu@yahoo.com.
Insights
Cardiac syndrome X (CSX) patients show impaired left ventricular diastolic function and increased left atrial active contractile pump function as a compensatory mechanism. Maintaining sinus rhythm is crucial for these patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Physiology
- Echocardiography
Background:
- Cardiac syndrome X (CSX) is characterized by myocardial ischemia affecting left ventricular function.
- Left atrial function alterations in CSX are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in left atrial functions in patients diagnosed with Cardiac Syndrome X.
Main Methods:
- Transthoracic echocardiography and tissue Doppler echocardiography were used.
- Left ventricular and atrial functions were assessed in 100 CSX patients and 80 controls.
Main Results:
- CSX patients exhibited impaired left ventricular diastolic function and increased left atrial volumes.
- Left atrial active emptying volume and active ejection fraction were significantly increased in CSX patients.
- Left atrial conduit volume was decreased, suggesting altered filling dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Increased left atrial pump function in CSX patients serves as a compensatory mechanism for impaired left ventricular diastolic function.
- These findings highlight the importance of maintaining sinus rhythm in managing CSX.
- Echocardiographic assessment of left atrial function provides insights into CSX pathophysiology.
Objective:
Cardiac syndrome X (CSX) affects left ventricular functions due to myocardial ischaemia. In this study our aim was to determine the changes in left atrial functions in patients with CSX.
Patients And Methods:
One-hundred patients (M/F; 57/43) diagnosed with CSX in whom ischaemia was detected at exercise test and myocardial perfusion scintigrapghy with normal coronary angiogram and control group of 80 subjects (M/F; 40/40) were recruited into the study. In transthoracic echocardiography and tissue doppler echocardiography, left ventricular and atrial functions were recorded.
Results:
As compared to control group,left ventricular diastolic functions were impaired (E/A; 0.95 ± 0.18 vs 1.11 ± 0.29 p < 0.001), left ventricular end-diastolic pressures were increased (E/Em; 8.1 ± 1.85 vs 6.9 ± 1.74 p < 0.05), and left atrial maximum volume, left atrial pre-A volume,left atrial minimum volume were increased in patients with CSX. Left atrial conduit volume was significantly decreased in patients with cardiac syndrome. Left atrial passive emptying volume (LAPEV), left atrial active emptying volume (LAAEV) and left atrial total emptying volume (LATEV) were significantly increased in patients with cardiac syndrome X. Left atrial passive ejection fration (LAPEF) was found similar between the study groups.Left atrial active ejection fraction (LAAEF) was found significantly increased (37.85 ± 11.89 vs 33.60 ± 9.21; p = 0.009) in patients with CSX. Left atrial total ejection fraction (LATEF) was increased in the group with cardiac syndrome X but it didn't reach statistical significance (60.85 ± 8.73 vs 58.36 ± 8.29; p = 0.054).
Conclusions:
Left atrial active contractile pump function increase in response to impaired left ventricular diastolic functions in CSX. Increased left atrial pump function represents a compensatory mechanism in patients with CSX. These results point out the importance of maintaining sinus rythm in patients with CSX.
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