scholarly journals Considerable scatter in the relationship between left atrial volume and pressure in heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiro Hoshida ◽  
◽  
Tetsuya Watanabe ◽  
Yukinori Shinoda ◽  
Tomoko Minamisaka ◽  
...  

AbstractThe index for a target that can lead to improved prognoses and more reliable therapy in each heterogeneous patient with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains to be defined. We examined the heterogeneity in the cardiac performance of patients with HFpEF by clarifying the relationship between the indices of left atrial (LA) volume (LAV) overload and pressure overload with echocardiography. We enrolled patients with HFpEF (N = 105) who underwent transthoracic echocardiography during stable sinus rhythm. Relative LAV overload was evaluated using the LAV index or stroke volume (SV)/LAV ratio. Relative LA pressure overload was estimated using E/e’ or the afterload-integrated index of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function: diastolic elastance (Ed)/arterial elastance (Ea) ratio = (E/e’)/(0.9 × systolic blood pressure). The logarithmic value of the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide was associated with SV/LAV (r = −0.214, p = 0.033). The pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was positively correlated to Ed/Ea (r = 0.403, p = 0.005). SV/LAV was negatively correlated to Ed/Ea (r = −0.292, p = 0.002), with no observed between-sex differences. The correlations between the LAV index and E/e’ and Ed/Ea and between SV/LAV and E/e’ were less prominent than the abovementioned relationships. SV/LAV and Ed/Ea, showing relative LAV and LA pressure respectively, were significantly but modestly correlated in patients with HFpEF. There may be considerable scatter in the relationships between these indices, which could possibly affect the selection of medications or efforts to improve the prognoses of patients with HFpEF.

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsuyoshi Tabata ◽  
Kazuhiro Shimizu ◽  
Yukihiro Morinaga ◽  
Naoaki Tanji ◽  
Ruiko Yoshida ◽  
...  

Background: To investigate the relationship between arterial stiffness, reflected by cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) value, and left atrial (LA) phasic function in hypertensive patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).Methods: We retrospectively studied 165 consecutive patients (mean age, 66.5 ± 11.7 years) diagnosed with hypertension with preserved LVEF who had undergone CAVI measurement and echocardiography on the same day. The latter included speckle-tracking echocardiography to assess LA phasic function (reservoir, conduit, and pump strain) and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS).Results: The results of univariate analysis showed CAVI value to be correlated with LA reservoir strain and LA conduit strain (r = −0.387 and −0.448, respectively; both P < 0.0001). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed CAVI value to be independently related to age (β = 0.241, P = 0.002) and LA conduit strain (β = −0.386, P = 0.021) but not LV mass index, LA volume index, or LV systolic function (including LVGLS).Conclusion: In hypertensive patients with preserved LVEF, increased CAVI value appears to be independently associated with impaired LA phasic function (particularly LA conduit function) before LA and LV remodeling. CAVI determination to assess arterial stiffness may be useful in the early detection of interactions between cardiovascular abnormalities in hypertensive patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoni Bayes-Genis ◽  
Felipe Bisbal ◽  
Julio Núñez ◽  
Enrique Santas ◽  
Josep Lupón ◽  
...  

To better understand heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), we need to better characterize the transition from asymptomatic pre-HFpEF to symptomatic HFpEF. The current emphasis on left ventricular diastolic dysfunction must be redirected to microvascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction that leads to cardiomyocyte remodeling and enhanced interstitial collagen deposition. A pre-HFpEF patient lacks signs or symptoms of heart failure (HF), has preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) with incipient structural changes similar to HFpEF, and possesses elevated biomarkers of cardiac dysfunction. The transition from pre-HFpEF to symptomatic HFpEF also involves left atrial failure, pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular dysfunction, and renal failure. This review focuses on the non-left ventricular mechanisms in this transition, involving the atria, right heart cavities, kidneys, and ultimately the currently accepted driver—systemic inflammation. Impaired atrial function may decrease ventricular hemodynamics and significantly increase left atrial and pulmonary pressure, leading to HF symptoms, irrespective of left ventricle (LV) systolic function. Pulmonary hypertension and low right-ventricular function are associated with the incidence of HF. Interstitial fibrosis in the heart, large arteries, and kidneys is key to the pathophysiology of the cardiorenal syndrome continuum. By understanding each of these processes, we may be able to halt disease progression and eventually extend the time a patient remains in the asymptomatic pre-HFpEF stage.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Ovchinnikov ◽  
A V Potekhina ◽  
A A Borisov ◽  
N M Ibragimova ◽  
E N Yushchyuk ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Diagnosis of early heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) may be challenging because exertional dyspnea is not specific for heart failure, and biomarkers and indicators of volume overload may be absent at rest. We aimed to characterize the contribution of abnormal left atrial (LA) mechanical properties to exercise intolerance in early HFpEF (normal left ventricular filling pressures at rest but elevated during exercise). Methods Diastolic stress testing (DST) was performed in 104 patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50%, in sinus rhythm, and no more than LV diastolic dysfunction grade I, referred for assessment of exertional dyspnoea. Patients exercised supine cycle ergometry at 60 rpm starting with a 3-min period of low-level 25-W workload followed by 25-W increments in 3-minute stages to maximum tolerated levels. According to DST, 43 patients were diagnosed with HFpEF (average mitral E-to-annular e′ ratio [E/e′] > 14, and peak TR velocity >2.8 m/sec at maximal exertion) and 61 as non-cardiac dyspnea (NCD). During the test, two-dimensional images, mitral E/e′, peak tricuspid regurgitation (TR) velociry, and two-dimensional LA mechanical parameters (longitudinal LA strain [LASR] and strain rate [LASRR] during reservoir phase and LA stiffness assessed as a ratio of mitral E/e′ ratio to LASR) were analysed at baseline, and at peak. Results HFpEF and NCD patients were similar in regard to the LA volume index (34.4 [30.2;39.4] vs. 33.6 [28.4;37.1] ml/m2), and NT-proBNP level (132 [80;238] vs. 129 [80;197] pg/ml). As compared with NCD patients, HFpEF patients displayed reduced LA reservoir function assessed by LASR (22.3 [18.9;25.6] vs. 24.2 [21.2;29.8] % at rest, and 25.3 [21.4;30.2] vs. 29.0 [24.2;33.3] % with exercise) and LASRR (0.78 [0.58;0.96] vs. 0.90 [0.68;1.12] /s at rest, and 1.10 [0.79;1.31] vs. 1.24 [1.03;1.56] s–1 with exercise) with increased LA stiffness (0.57 [0.44;0.70] vs. 0.42 [0.30;0.49] mmHg/% at rest, and 0.61 [0.46;0.74] vs. 0.40 [0.32;0.51] mmHg/% with exercise, all P < 0.05). Additionally, HFpEF patients showed smaller exercise elevation in LASRR (+31 [-5;77] vs. +47 [12;85] % as compared with resting values, P < 0.05). Exercised LA stiffness and reservoir strain correlated with exercise LV filling pressures estimated by mitral E/e′ ratio (r = 0.72 and r =–0.35, P < 0.001). LA stiffness showed a good diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve 0.75), and LA stiffness > 0.46 mmHg/% demonstrated reasonable sensitivity (79%) and specificity (71%) to diagnose HFpEF. Neither LV global longitudinal strain and ejection fraction at rest nor their exercise-induced elevation differed between HFpEF and NCD. Conclusion Impaired LA reservoir function and increased stiffness are associated with exercise intolerance in patients with early HFpEF, while LV systolic function seems preserved in this stage of the disease. LA stiffness provides HFpEF diagnostic potential in ambulatory patients with dyspnea


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Bekki ◽  
H Hayama ◽  
R Nagai ◽  
W Miyake ◽  
J Yamamoto ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Left atrial (LA) function is impaired in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, the association between LA longitudinal strain and heart failure (HF) events in patients with HFpEF is still unknown. We evaluated whether LA strain measurements would be useful to predict hospitalizations for worsening HF in this study. Methods This study included 121 patients (Male 73, Female 48) with HFpEF who had echocardiogram at our institute (Age = 76 ± 14y, Left ventricular ejection fraction; LVEF = 63 ± 8%). Patients with atrial fibrillation were excluded. LA longitudinal strain was measured by speckle-tracking echocardiography, using TOMTEC imaging system. The endpoints were hospitalizations for worsening HF. Results During follow-up period of 319 ± 269 days, 33 patients (27%) experienced hospitalizations for worsening HF. LA strain was markedly lower in patients with HF events at 11.3 ± 5.6, whereas LA strain was higher at 20.3 ± 10.1 in patients without HF events. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a significant separation of survival curves stratified by median value of LA strain (Figure). Conclusions LA dysfunction in HFpEF is associated with a higher risk of HF hospitalization, and LA strain measurements would be useful to predict HF events. Abstract Figure


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