Study of left atrial function in patients with heart failure by four-dimensional automatic left atrial quantitation analysis technique / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To analyze the left atrial (LA) function and predict the value of diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in patients with heart failure (HF) by four-dimensional automatic left atrial quantitation (4D Auto LAQ) technology.Methods:A total of 90 patients with HF(LVDD group) and 30 healthy volunteers (control group)were enrolled from January 2021 to July 2021 in Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital. The patients with HF were divided into 3 groups according to the degree of LVDD grade Ⅰ( n=30), grade Ⅱ( n=30), grade Ⅲ( n=30). Four-dimensional dynamic images of LA were collected by 4D Auto LAQ technology for on-machine analysis. LA volume and strain parameters were obtained, including LA maximum volume index (LAVImax), LA reservoir longitudinal and circumferential strains (LASr, LASr-c), LA conduit longitudinal and circumferential strains (LAScd, LAScd-c) and LA contraction longitudinal and circumferential strains (LASct, LASct-c). Pearson linear correlation was used to analyze the correlation between LA strain parameters and diastolic function parameters (LAVImax, E/A, E/e′) in HF patients. ROC curves were plotted to analyze the diagnostic performance of LA strain parameters and LAVImax for grade Ⅲ LVDD, the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated and pairwise comparisons were made. Results:①Compared with the control group, LAVmin, LAVpreA, LAScd, LASct, LAScd-c, and LASct-c were increased, and LASr, and LASr-c were decreased in the grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ LVDD groups (all P<0.05). LAVmin, LAVpreA, LAVmax, LAVImax, LAScd, LASct, LAScd-c and LASct-c were increased, and LASr and LASr-c were decreased in grade Ⅲ LVDD group compared with grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ LVDD groups (all P<0.05). ②Pearson correlation analysis showed that LASr, LASct, LASr-c and LASct-c were strongly correlated with diastolic function parameters (LAVImax, E/A, E/e′) (all P<0.01). ③ROC curve analysis showed that LASr-c had significantly better performance (AUC 0.868, sensitivity 96.7%, specificity 66.7%) than other parameters in the diagnosis of grade Ⅲ LVDD. Conclusions:4D Auto LAQ can effectively evaluate the LA volume and function in patients with HF. LASr-c is optimal in predicting grade Ⅲ LVDD, 4D Auto LAQ provides a new reference for evaluating diastolic function in patients with HF.