Dataset Information

Quantitative tissue-tracking cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) of left atrial deformation and the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recent evidence suggests that left atrial (LA) dysfunction may be mechanistically contributing to cerebrovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigated the association between regional LA function and a prior history of stroke during sinus rhythm in patients referred for catheter ablation of AF.

Methods and results

A total of 169 patients (59 ± 10 years, 74% male, 29% persistent AF) with a history of AF in sinus rhythm at the time of pre-ablation cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) were analyzed. The LA volume, emptying fraction, strain (S), and strain rate (SR) were assessed by tissue-tracking cardiac magnetic resonance. The patients with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (n=18) had greater LA volumes (Vmax and Vmin; P=0.02 and P<0.001, respectively), lower LA total emptying fraction (P<0.001), lower LA maximum and pre-atrial contraction strains (Smax and SpreA; P<0.001 and P=0.01, respectively), and lower absolute values of LA SR during left ventricular (LV) systole and early diastole (SRs and SRe; P=0.005 and 0.03, respectively) than those without stroke/transient ischemic attack (n=151). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that the LA reservoir function, including total emptying fraction, Smax, and SRs, was associated with stroke/transient ischemic attack (odds ratio 0.94, 0.91, and 0.17; P=0.03, 0.02, and 0.04, respectively) after adjusting for the CHA2DS2-VASc score and LA Vmin.

Conclusions

Depressed LA reservoir function assessed by tissue-tracking cardiac magnetic resonance is significantly associated with a prior history of stroke/transient ischemic attack in patients with AF. Our findings suggest that assessment of LA reservoir function can improve the risk stratification of cerebrovascular events in AF patients.

SUBMITTER: Inoue YY

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4579945 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a progressive disease that starts with structural or functional changes in the left atrium and left ventricle, and evolves from paroxysmal toward sustained forms. Early detection of structural or functional changes in the left atrium and left ventricle in the paroxysmal stage could be useful for identifying a higher risk of progression to persistent AF and future cardio-cerebrovascular events. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the feature tracking (FT) left atrial (LA) strain and left ventricular (LV) extracellular volume fraction (ECV) derived from cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) could detect early changes in remodeling of the left atrium and ventricle in the paroxysmal AF (PAF) stage. The participants were comprised of 106 PAF patients (age, 66.1 ± 10.7 years; 66% male) who underwent clinical CMR before pulmonary vein isolation and 20 control subjects (age, 68.3 ± 8.6 years; 55% male). The CMR-FT LA strain/phasic function and LV-ECV were compared between the PAF and control groups. The total and passive LA empty fraction (LAEF) and LA strain (corresponding to LA reservoir and conduit function) were decreased in the PAF group as compared to the control group. However, active LAEF (corresponding to the LA booster pump function) did not differ significantly between the PAF group (33.9 ± 10.9%) and control group (37.9 ± 13.3%, p = 0.15), while the active LA strain (corresponding to the LA booster pump function) was significantly decreased in the PAF group (11.4 ± 4.3 vs. 15.2 ± 5.6%, p = 0.002). The LV-ECV was significantly greater in the PAF group (28.7 ± 2.8%) than control group (26.6 ± 2.0%, p = 0.002). In the PAF group, the LV-ECV correlated significantly with the E/e' and LA volume index. Regarding the LA strain, correlations were seen between the LV-ECV and both the reservoir function and conduit function. CMR-FT LA strain in combination with the LV-ECV in a single clinical study offers a potential imaging marker that identifies LA/LV remodeling including subtle LA booster pump dysfunction undetectable by the conventional booster pump LAEF in the PAF stage.

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