Evaluation of right atrial function with atrial volume tracking method in patients with Atrial fibrillation

Objective To evaluate the structure and function of right atrium (RA) in patients with hypertension atrial fibrillation (HAF) and lone atrial fibrillation (LAF) by AVT. Methods Sixty patients with atrial fibrillation were divided into LAF group (n=36) and HAF group (n=24). Thirty normal volunteers served as control group. Interventricular septum thickness at end diastole (IVSTd), left ventricular posterior wall thickness at end diastolic(LVPWTd), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic dimension(LVESD), right ventricular end-diastolic dimension(RVEDD)were evaluated by M-mode ultrasound. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was calculated by Teich method. Echocardiographic evaluations included RA major dimension (RAD1), RA minor dimension (RAD2), LA diameter (LAD1), LA major dimension (LAD2) and LA minor dimension (LAD3). RA maximal area (RAAmax), RA maximal volume(RAVmax), RA minimal volume (RAVmin), systolic RA filling rate (dv/dtS) and early diastolic RA emptying rate (dv/dtE) were derived using AVTM. Then the RA emptying fraction (RAEF) was calculated. Results Compared with the values in control group, the RAD1, RAD2, RAAmax, RAVmax, RAVmin and dv/dtE, LAD1, LAD2, LAD3 were significantly higher and RAEF, dv/dtS were significantly lower in atrial fibrillation group (all P 0.05). RAD1, RAD2, RAAmax, RAVmax, RAVmin, dv/dtE were significantly higher and LAD1, LAD2, LAD3, RAEF, dv/dtS significantly lower in LAF group compared with HAF group (all P<0.05). Conclusions Compared with HAF patients, RA function is significantly impaired in patients with LAF. AVT can evaluate RA function accurately and simply. Key words: Atrial fibrillation; Echocardiography; Right atrial emptying fraction; Atrial volume tracking