Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and N-terminal probrain sodium-uretic peptid level in patients with atrial fibrillation

In our study 100 consecutive non-valvular permanent atrial fibrillation patients with NYHA I – III heart failure, 43 - 86 years old (65 men and 35 women) were examined. Control group consisted of 30 patients with arterial hypertension and coronary artery disease matched by age, sex with basic group. Relationship of NT-proBNP with echocardiographic parameters of left heart were studied. Transthoracic echocardiography with tissue doppler measurements were performed on echocardiograph “SONOS 7500”. For left ventricular filling pressure assessment ratio Em/Ea was used due to its diagnostic value in atrial fibrillation (regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction). Mean left ventricular filling pressure was increased in patients with heart failure: in atrial fibrillation group and controls as well. In comparison with controls atrial fibrillation group was more likely to have higher both systolic and diastolic left atrial square and volume. According to Em/Ea in 95% of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation high left ventricular filling pressure was observed, this testifies to diastolic dysfunction. This parameter correlated well with left atrial square and volume during systole and diastole. Correlation between NT pro-BNP level and NYHA class of heart failure, left ventricular filling pressure was determined in patients with atrial fibrillation. Tissue doppler echocardiography makes it possible to diagnose left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in atrial fibrillation patients