Clinical research Left atrial myopathy in cardiac amyloidosis: implications of novel echocardiographic techniques

Aims To assess left atrial (LA) function and determine the prevalence of LA dysfunc-tion in AL amyloidosis (AL) using conventional and strain echocardiography. Methods and results LA ejection fraction, LA filling fraction, LA ejection force, peak LA systolic strain rate (LAsSR), and LA systolic strain (LA 1) were determined in 95 AL patients (70 with and 25 without echocardiographic evidence of cardiac involvement, abbreviated CAL and NCAL, respectively), 30 age-matched controls (CON), and 20 patients with diastolic dysfunction and LA dilatation (DD). Peak LAsSR.2 standard deviations below mean CON value was used as the cut-off for normal LA function. LA ejection fraction was lower in CAL when compared with CON (40.4+ 13.6 vs. 67.0+ 6%, P 0.01). Left atrial septal strain rate and strain were lower in CAL (0.8+ 0.5 s–1 and 5.5+ 4%, respectively) compared with CON (1.8+ 0.8 s–1 and 14+ 4%, respectively, P ,0.0001), NCAL (1.6+ 0.8 s–1 and 13+ 7%, respectively, P, 0.0001) and DD (1.3+ 0.4 s–1 and 10+ 2%, respectively, P, 0.0001). Based on peak LA systolic strain rate criteria, the cut-off values for normal LA function were –1.1 s–1 and –1.05 s–1 for lateral and septal walls. Using these criteria, LA dysfunctio