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The mitral annular displacement by two-dimensional speckle tracking: a new tool in evaluating the left atrial
Mihai Strachinaru1, Charifa Annis, Emmanuel Catez
1Cardiology Department, Brugmann University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine (Hagerstown, Md.)
|April 1, 2016
Summary
Mitral annular displacement using speckle tracking offers a reliable and rapid method for assessing left atrial function. This technique shows strong correlations with strain parameters, potentially serving as a surrogate for left atrial deformation analysis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Echocardiography
- Cardiac Mechanics
Background:
- Assessing left atrial (LA) volume change and deformation is challenging due to technical dependencies and clinical limitations.
- Current methods for evaluating LA function are often complex and not readily applicable in routine clinical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate mitral annular displacement (MAD) measured by speckle tracking as a potential alternative method for assessing longitudinal left atrial function.
- To determine the correlation between MAD and established measures of LA function, including volumetric and deformation parameters.
Main Methods:
- Ninety participants (54% male, mean age 53±15 years) underwent comprehensive echocardiography, including 2D, 3D, and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI).
- Participants were categorized into normal (n=35) and abnormal (n=55) echocardiography groups.
- Mitral annular displacement was analyzed using speckle tracking echocardiography.
Main Results:
- Strong correlations were observed between MAD and 3D volumetric LA function (reservoir: r=0.78; contractile: r=0.76) and LA longitudinal strain (reservoir: r=0.87; contractile: r=0.81).
- MAD demonstrated good discriminatory ability for normal versus abnormal LA function (AUCs 0.872 for reservoir, 0.843 for contractile), performing comparably to 3D and deformation analyses.
- Interobserver and intraobserver variability for MAD were ±15% and ±12%, respectively, with rapid analysis times (9±3s for experienced, 12±4s for beginners).
Conclusions:
- Mitral annular displacement by speckle tracking is a reliable and fast echocardiographic method for evaluating left atrial function.
- Due to its strong correlation with strain parameters, MAD can serve as a valuable surrogate measure for assessing left atrial deformation.
- This technique offers a clinically practical alternative for longitudinal left atrial function assessment.
