Innovations in Cardiac Imaging: the rising importance of LA Strain

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Innovations in Cardiac Imaging: the rising importance of LA Strain

22/03/2024

Written by: Arsalan Khalil

Edited by:

Editorials

Take home messages

Left Atrial (LA) Strain is an early marker of diastolic dysfunction and can show changes prior to structural/volumetric changes.
It is particularly useful in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation.
LA strain has prognostic value and can predict adverse outcomes.
Incorporation of LA strain should be routinely done as an adjunct to other markers of diastolic dysfunction.

Introduction

Strain has become an integral part of cardiac imaging. It is a quantification of deformation, essentially presented as a percentage to illustrate alterations in length relative to initial length. Left atrial (LA) strain mirrors the intricate interplay among left atrial myocardial contractility, compliance, the size of the left atrium and prevailing loading conditions.