Echocardiographic assessment of left atrial size and function in heart failure

█ Review

DOI: 10.26430/CHUNGARICA.2019.49.2.105

Porpáczy Adél, Faludi Réka
Pécsi Tudományegyetem, Klinikai Központ, Szívgyógyászati Klinika, Pécs

Summary

Investigation of the development and hemodinamics of heart failure was traditionally focused on the structure and function of the left ventricle, while left atrium was considered as a passive „transport” chamber, only transmitting blood into the left ventricle. Over the past two decades, however, growing evidence supports the importance of the left atrial structure and function in heart failure. Amongst all left atrial parameters, left atrial volume was reported primarily as a sensitive indicator of the severity and duration of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and as a predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in heart failure. Nowadays more attention is devoted to the left atrial function, which may serve as an even more powerful diagnostic and prognostic marker in heart failure than left atrial volume, which is included in the current guidelines.

ISSUE: CARDIOLOGIA HUNGARICA | 2019 | VOLUME 49, ISSUE 2

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