Function over form? Assessing the left atrium in heart failure

Function over form? Assessing the left atrium in heart failure.

The understanding of heart failure (HF) haemodynamics has traditionally focused on left ventricular (LV) structure and function, with the left atrium being viewed simply as a passive transport chamber that empties into the left ventricle. Over the last decade, there has been increasing recognition of the importance of left atrial (LA) structure and function in the pathophysiology of HF. LA volu...

Giant left atrium mimicking right heart failure.

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Left atrium in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: structure, function, and significance.

C ardiac remodeling is a fundamental part of the heart failure (HF) syndrome, representing a common response to various pathological stimuli that result in changes in the structural and functional properties of the heart. To date, most studies in HF have focused on ventricular remodeling, and much less emphasis has been placed on atrial structural and functional changes. Specifically, in the co...

incremental value of left atrium two-dimensional strain in patients with heart failure

Left atrial function in diastolic heart failure.

BACKGROUND Abnormalities in left ventricular (LV) structure and function occur in patients with diastolic heart failure (DHF). The reasons for the transition from asymptomatic dysfunction to heart failure need better definition, including noninvasive measurements that can detect the transition. METHODS AND RESULTS In 64 patients undergoing right heart catheterization, simultaneous echocardiog...