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Laft atrial mechanical function in patients with essentiel hypertension

2002; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 57; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2143/ac.57.5.2005447

1784-973X

Mustafa Kemal Erol, Mustafa Yılmaz, Mahmut ECIKEL, Şule Karakelleoğlu,

Cardiac Arrhythmias and Treatments

This study was carried out to assess the left atrial (LA) mechanical function in patients with essential hypertension with two-dimensional echocardiography by means of left atrial volume measurements.LA volumes were measured echocardiographically in 36 untreated hypertensive patients and 20 age-sex-matched healthy controls according to biplane area-length method. LA volume measurements were done at the time of mitral valve opening (Vmax), at the onset of atrial systole (p wave at the electrocardiography = Vp) and at closure (Vmin). All volumes were indexed for body surface area, and the following left atrial emptying functions were calculated: LA passive emptying volume = Vmax -Vp, LA passive emptying fraction = LA passive emptying volume /Vmax, conduit volume = left ventricular stroke volume-(Vmax-Vmin), LA active emptying volume = Vp-Vmin, LA active emptying fraction = LA active emptying volume /Vp, LA total emptying volume = (Vmax-Vmin), LA total emptying fraction = LA total emptying volume /Vmax.Vmax (p < 0.01),Vmin (p < 0.005) and Vp (p < 0.001) were significantly greater in hypertensives than in controls. Although LA passive emptying volume (p < 0.001), LA passive emptying fraction (p < 0.001), conduit volume (p < 0.005) and LA total emptying fraction (p < 0.05) were found to be significantly lower in hypertensives than in controls, LA active emptying volume (p < 0.001) and LA active emptying fraction (p < 0.01) were found to be significantly greater in hypertensives than in controls. LA total emptying volume (p > 0.05) was similar in both groups.The results of the present study indicate that chronic hypertension is associated with an increased in left atrial volumes, a decrease in left atrial passive emptying function, and an increase systolic pump function. Increased left atrial pump function represents a compensatory mechanism in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy.