Relation Between Left Atrial Strain Function and Coronary Slow Flow Phenomenon Using Two-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography

Abstract

Introduction: Coronary slow flow (CSF) phenomenon is a clinical entity characterized by a slow, opaque material reaching distal coronary arteries in patients with normal or noncritical coronary artery diseases. Strain imaging techniques are reliable methods for evaluating both global and regional cardiac functions. In this study, we planned to investigate the relationship between left atrial strain (LAS), which is the best noninvasive demonstrator of left ventricle diastolic dysfunction, and CSF. Patients and Methods: Thirty-eight consecutive patients whose coronary angiography was performed and CSF was detected at our hospital between January and December 2016 were included in the study. Thirty-seven age and sex matched patients with normal coronary arteries were enrolled as a control group. Results: The median age was 52 ± 10.4 years, and 54.1% patients were male. Peak atrial longitudinal strain and peak atrial contraction strain were lower in the CSF group than in the control group (32.84 ± 8.06 vs. 38.49 ± 6.42, p= 0.001 and p< 0.001, respectively). In addition, time to peak longitudinal strain was higher in CSF group when compared with control group (445 ± 58 vs. 407 ± 36, p= 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: It is known that there is a relationship between CSF and diastolic dysfunction and it is also known that LAS, which can be measured using the speckle-tracking method, shows left ventricle filling pressure like invasive measurements. In this study, we found an association between LAS, which is an easily available, cheap, and noninvasive method, and CSF.