Left atrial appendage functions in patients with severe rheumatic mitral regurgitation

Aim The left atrial appendage (LAA) function was evaluated in patients with severe rheumatic mitral regurgitation, having sinus rhythm or atrial fibrillation, by standard and tissue Doppler echocardiographic examinations. Methods and results Sixty patients with rheumatic severe mitral regurgitation were enrolled. The patients (14 females and 6 males) having sinus rhythm were selected as group I and 20 patients (15 females and 5 males) with atrial fibrillation formed group II. 20 healthy subjects (15 female and 5 males) served as the control group (group III). In order to determine the LAA functions, LAA peak filling flow velocity (LAAPFV), LAA peak emptying flow velocity (LAAPEV) and percentage of LAA area change (LAAAC %) were measured. In the TDI records of the subjects with sinus rhythm, the first positive wave identical to the LAA late emptying wave (LEW) following the P-wave was accepted as LAA late systolic wave (LSW), and the second negative wave identical to the LAA late filling flow was accepted as late diastolic wave (LDW). In patients with atrial fibrillation, the positive wave was accepted as LAA late systolic wave (LSW), and the second negative wave identical to the LAA late filling flow was accepted as late diastolic wave (LDW). LAA outflow and inflow velocities were lower in the group having atrial fibrillation (P < 0.002, and P < 0.007, respectively). LAAAC% was also reduced in group II (P < 0.0001). The pulsed Doppler LSW and LDW velocities, measured with TDI method were found to be quite reduced in patients with AF (P: 0.002 and P: 0.001, respectively). The study parameters were statistically similar in patients with normal sinus rhythm and controls. Conclusion In this study, we found that the LAA functions are impaired in patients with severe mitral regurgitation, having AF, whereas preserved in patients with normal sinus rhythm, compared to controls.