Left Atrial Strain and Strain Rate in Patients With Paroxysmal and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a progressive condition that begins with hemodynamic and/or structural changes in the left atrium (LA) and evolves through paroxysmal and persistent stages. Because of limitations with current noninvasive imaging techniques, the relationship between LA structure and function is not well understood. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-five patients (age, 61.2+/-14.2 years; 67% men) with paroxysmal (44%) or persistent (56%) AF underwent 3D delayed-enhancement MRI. Segmentation of the LA wall was performed and degree of enhancement (fibrosis) was determined using a semiautomated quantification algorithm. Two-dimensional echocardiography and longitudinal LA strain and strain rate…