Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
Three-Dimensional Echocardiography in Evaluating LA Volumes and Functions in Diabetic Normotensive Patients without
Mohamed Hamza1, Ahmed Mamdouh1, Dina Ezzeldin1
1Department of Cardiology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Insights
Diabetes mellitus impacts heart health, particularly left atrial function. Type 2 diabetes shows enlarged left atrial volumes and impaired contractility, while type 1 diabetes affects contractility.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Diabetology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Cardiovascular complications pose the greatest risk to diabetic patients.
- Metabolic and microvascular changes in diabetes primarily affect cardiac function, with diastolic dysfunction being an early indicator.
- Assessing left atrial (LA) function is crucial for detecting early cardiac damage in diabetic individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of diabetes mellitus on left atrial volumes and functions.
- Utilize real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography (RT3D) for precise evaluation.
- Focus on normotensive patients without pre-existing cardiovascular disease.
Main Methods:
- Included 110 participants: 50 controls and 60 with diabetes (30 type 1, 30 type 2).
- Employed 2D and 3D echocardiography to measure LA maximum volume, phasic volumes, and LA maximum volume indexed to body surface area (LAVi).
- Calculated LA functions including total stroke volume, active stroke volume, and active emptying fraction using RT3D volumetric analysis.
Main Results:
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients exhibited enlarged LA volumes (Vmax, Vmin, LAVi) and increased LA total stroke volume.
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients showed a decreased LA active emptying fraction.
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus patients demonstrated a reduced active emptying fraction, indicating impaired contractility.
Conclusions:
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with increased LA volume, impaired compliance, and reduced contractility.
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus is linked to impaired LA contractility compared to non-diabetic individuals.
- Early detection of LA dysfunction is vital for managing cardiovascular risks in diabetes.
Background:
Cardiovascular complications are the most serious threat to diabetic patients. Associated metabolic and microvascular changes are the main cause of cardiac function affection, and the earliest cardiac change is diastolic dysfunction. Assessment of LA function changes is a key to determine early heart damage of diabetic patients.
Objectives:
To evaluate the effect of diabetes mellitus on left atrial volumes and functions by using real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography in normotensive patients free from cardiovascular disease.
Methods:
The study included 110 individuals, 50 controls and 60 patients with diabetes mellitus, 30 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 30 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. 2-dimensional echocardiography was used to assess the LA maximum volume and LA phasic volumes, and LA maximum volume indexed to body surface area were measured by 3D echocardiography. LA functions (LA total stroke volume, LA active stroke volume, and LA active emptying fraction) were obtained from RT3D volumetric analysis.
Results:
The results of the analysis revealed that type 2 diabetes mellitus showed enlarged V max, V min, and LAVi with an increased LA total stroke volume and decreased active emptying fraction, while type 1 diabetics showed only decreased in active emptying fraction. The LA maximum volume indexed to body surface area (LAVi) was significantly higher in type 2 diabetic patients as compared to normal controls which was 23.55 ± 3.37 ml/m2 versus 20.30.
Conclusion:
Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have an increased LA volume with impaired compliance and contractility, while patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus have only impaired contractility compared to nondiabetic subjects.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Cardiac Catheterization III: Left Heart Catheterization
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,...
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography
Types of Echocardiography
Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
TTE is the most common type of echocardiogram which involves placing a transducer on the patient's chest, emitting sound waves to create heart images. TTE is invaluable for evaluating the heart's size, structure, and motion, making it particularly useful for...