Value of 3D-STI technology in evaluating and predicting left atrial function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and hypertension

ObjectiveThree-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) was used to measure left atrial volume, strain, and synchronicity in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and hypertension, and the changes in left atrial function was explored.

MethodsA total of 45 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and hypertension (PAF-HT) who had complete data were selected as the abservation group, and 48 healthy subjects were recruited as the control group.The observation group was further divided into left atrial enlargement group and non-enlargement group based on left atrial inner diameter index (LAI).Post-processing calculations on the obtained full volume 3D image were performed to obtain overall longitudinal strain (GLS), circumferential strain (GCS) of the left atrium, left atrial maximum volume index (MaxLAVi), left atrial minimum volume index (MinLAVi), left atrial active pre systolic volume index (PaLAVi), the standard deviation of peak time for longitudinal strain in the left atrial myocardium (TLS-SD) and the standard deviation of peak time for circumferential strain (TCS-SD).By comparing the differences in various indicators between the observation group and the control group, the differences in left atrial function between the two groups were compared, and the functional changes between the differences in left atrial configuration were further analyzed.

ResultsThe left atrial volume index (MaxLAVi, MinLAVi, PaLAVi), strain index (GLS, GCS), and standard deviation of myocardial strain peak time (TLS-SD, TCS-SD) in the PAF-HT group showed statistically significant differences compared with the control group (P < 0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in GLS and GCS indicators between the non-enlargement enlargement group and the enlargement group (P>0.05).The TLS-SD and TCS-SD indicators in the left atrial enlargement group were higher than those in the non-enlargement group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions3D-STI can predict the functional status of the left atrium in PAF-HT patients in advance before changes occur, providing a new clinical evaluation pathway for advanced diagnosis and quantitative evaluation of changes in left atrium function in clinical practice.