A rapid method to quantify left atrial contractile function: Doppler tissue imaging of the mitral annulus during atrial systole

Aims. Assess the value of peak atrial systolic mitral annular velocity (A_ann) measured by Doppler tissue echocardiography to quantify left atrial systolic function. Methods. We studied a total of 61 adults; 10 subjects without history of heart disease and 51 patients with a history of atrial fibrillation or undergoing evaluation for left ventricular systolic or diastolic dysfunction. A_ann was obtained by averaging peak atrial systolic mitral annular velocities from the septal, lateral, anterior, and inferior annulus. Left atrial fractional area change (FAC) and fractional volume change (FVC) during atrial systole were calculated. The correlation between peak atrial systolic mitral annular velocity (A_ann) and left atrial systolic FAC and FVC was determined. Results. Mean FAC and FVC were 27±12 and 40±14%, respectively; mean A_ann was 11.2±3.2 cm/s. Linear regression analysis showed correlation between A_ann and FAC (r = 0.71; p<0.001) and between A_ann and FVC (r = 0.74; p<0.001). Conclusions. Peak systolic mitral annular velocity correlates well with left atrial systolic FAC and FVC, thus providing an easy means to assess left atrial systolic function.