Value of strain rate imaging in assessing left atrial function in patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy

AIM:To explore the value of strain rate imaging (SRI) technology in evaluating left atrial functions in patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM). METHODS: Conventional echocardiography and SRI were performed in 60 subjects: 30 with ACM (ACM group) and 30 agematched controls. Conventional parameters included left atrial maximum volume (LAVmax), left atrial preatrial contraction volume (LAVp), left atrial minimum volume (LAVmin), left atrial maximum diameter (LAMD), left atrial active ejection fraction (LAAEF) and left atrial passive ejection fraction (LAPEF). Early diastolic periods of left ventricle (ESR), late diastolic periods of left ventricle (ASR) and contraction period of left ventricle (SSR) were obtained in the basal septal, lateral, inferior and anterior atrial walls from the left atrium by SRI. RESULTS: Compared with those in the control groups, LAMD, LAVmax, LAVmin, LAVp and LAAEF significantly increased (P<005), whereas LAPEF significantly decreased (P<005). ASR increased (P<001) but SSR and ESR decreased (P<001). CONCLISION: SRI is an accurate method to evaluate left atrial functions in patients with ACM.