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Effects of age and pulmonary arterial hypertension on the different phases of right atrial function

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Abstract

To evaluate the effects of age and pulmonary hypertension on phasic right atrial function we measured right atrial volumes at 3 different points in the cardiac cycle in 57 healthy subjects and 33 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Right atrial reservoir function was assessed by systolic filling volume and passive and active emptying by passive and active emptying volume and fraction of total emptying. We compared these phases of right atrial function in 30 healthy subjects <60 and 27 ≥ 60 years old, and in a separate analysis, in 33 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and 33 matched controls. Healthy subjects ≥60 years had lower passive emptying fraction (46.0 ± 23.3% vs 59.9 ± 15.4%, P = 0.011) and larger active emptying volume (7.0 ± 3.5 vs 4.9 ± 2.5 ml/m2, P = 0.013 ) and fraction (54.0 ± 23.3% vs 40.1 ± 15.4%, P = 0.011) compared to those <60. Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension had larger right atrial volumes, systolic filling volume (18.3 ± 6.9 vs 12.3 ± 4.9 ml/m2, P ≤ 0.001) and active emptying volume and fraction (11.2 ± 6.9 vs 5.4 ± 3.0 ml/m2, P ≤ 0.001; 60.7 ± 29.9 vs 44.9 ± 19.0%, P = 0.017 ) and smaller passive emptying fraction (39.3 ± 29.9% vs 55.1 ± 19.0%, P = 0.017) compared to controls. Aging and pulmonary arterial hypertension are associated with a decrease in passive right atrial emptying and an increase in right atrial active emptying.

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Fig. 1

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Abbreviations

RAmax:

Maximum right atrial volume

RAp:

Right atrial volume before atrial contraction

RAmin:

Minimum right atrial volume

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by the Schecter Family Foundation, Miami, Florida.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Howard J. Willens, Jianxin Qin, Eugenio Labrador & Maureen H. Lowery

  2. Department of Medicine, Cardiology Section, Miami VAMC, Miami, FL, USA

    Howard J. Willens

  3. Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Diseases, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Debra P. Fertel

  4. 3513 Greenleaf Circle, Hollywood, FL, 33021-8437, USA

    Howard J. Willens

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  1. Howard J. Willens
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  2. Debra P. Fertel
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  3. Jianxin Qin
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  5. Maureen H. Lowery
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Correspondence to Howard J. Willens.

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Willens, H.J., Fertel, D.P., Qin, J. et al. Effects of age and pulmonary arterial hypertension on the different phases of right atrial function. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 24, 703–710 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-008-9306-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-008-9306-4

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