Mild Enlargement of Left Atria in Athletes

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The enlargement of LA (Left Atrium) dimensions is associated with risks for atria fibrillation(AF). In regularly trained athletes, LA dimensions are frequently near to the upper limit of the normal range but the implications on atria contractility and diastolic function are not well studied. The mean peak systolic LA Strain Rate is the parameter here considered for evaluation of atrial systole, in addition its relation with the Flow Propagation Velocity (FPV), commonly related with a decrease of diastolic relaxation only is analyzed. This study is based on two groups: athletes with mild enlargement of LA and patients with same LA dimensions and a story of recurrent AF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 15 patients with recurrent AF and 10 athletes (mean age 35 ± 5) were screened with echocardiography including systolic and diastolic measurements:E/A, DTc (ms), LA diameters (mm), FPV (cm/s), S/R (1/S), TDIV (cm/s) of the middle septum, lateral, inferior and anterior wall of the LA calculated with a new software not Doppler derived (IXVS prototype supported by-Esaote).Statistical analysis included t-student test and r-correlation. RESULTS: FPV and E/A values are significantly higher in athletes no further differences are evident in the two groups (Table 1) There is a negative correspondence (r = −1) among LA systolic SR of every segment and FPV in both groups. No relationship between LA size and mean SR values.TableCONCLUSIONS: In athletes mild enlargement of left atria is associated with normal diastolic function. Mean systolic S/R values are homogeneous in the whole left atria chambers of the athletes like in patients, but the negative correlation between FPW and S/R suggests us that the former cannot be considered a simple index of diastolic function