Left atrial strain evaluation to assess left ventricle diastolic dysfunction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a guide to clinical practice Left atrial strain and diastolic function

Autores da FMUP

• Francisco Pedro Morais Dias De Almeida Sampaio

  Autor

• Ricardo Manuel Alves Monteiro Fontes De Carvalho

  Autor

Participantes de fora da FMUP

• Silva, MR
• Braga, J
• Ribeiro, J

Unidades de investigação

• Cirurgia e Fisiologia

• Laboratório Associado RISE- Rede de Investigação em Saúde

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

• RISE-Health

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

Abstract

Although frequently unrecognized, left atrium (LA) function plays a key role in global cardiac performance as it modulates left ventricle (LV) filling through three main functions: the LA reservoir, conduit and booster pump. Given the interdependence between the LA and the LV, it is known that LA dimension and/or LA function can be used as a surrogate for LV diastolic function.Recently, LA deformation analysis using 2-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) strain emerged as a promising non-invasive technique that can help to estimate LV filling pressures (LVFP) and diagnose heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), as recently proposed in the recent 2022 European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) consensus which included LA reservoir strain as an additive parameter to estimate LVFP.This article aims to review the latest evidence regarding the role of LA strain in the assessment and management of LV diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and HFpEF, providing a clinical guide with tips and tricks to use LA strain as a new technique to help to estimate LVFP.

Keywords

• Diastolic function; Left atrium; Left atrial strain; Speckle tracking echocardiography; Diastolic dysfunction; HFpEF