Cardiology Letters 2021, 30(5):250-255

Left atrial coupling index: the new predictor of outcome in severe aortic stenosis

Vachalcová M¹, Porubän T¹, Kurečko M¹, Sieradzka KA¹, Jakubová M¹, Valočik G¹, Barbierik K², Schusterová I¹

¹ I. Klinika kardiológie LF UPJŠ a VÚSCH, a. s., Košice

² Siemens Healthineers, Košice, Slovenská republika

Objectives: Severe symptomatic aortic stenosis is associated with worse prognosis. The aim of our study was to determine the relationship between the new echocardiographic parameter, left atrial coupling index (LACI) and standard clinical and echocardiographic parameters in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis: at the same time to determine its role in the diagnostic algorithm of patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Methods: 40 patients with confirmed severe aortic stenosis were retrospectively enrolled in the study. LACI was determined based on the ratio of left atrial volume indexed to body surface area (LAVI) to a' measured by tissue Doppler echocardiography (DTI) in the septal margin of the mitral annulus. We followed the correlation of LACI with standard clinical and echocardiographic parameters of aortic stenosis.

Results: LACI values significantly positively correlated with the progression of symptoms expressed by the NYHA functional group (r = 0.7; p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with a LV ejection fraction (r = -0.70; p < 0.0003), mean and peak aortic valve gradient (r = -0.59; p < 0.003 and r = -0.55; p < 0.007, respectively). No statistically significant relationship to other selected clinical and echocardiographic parameters was demonstrated.

Conclusion: LACI significantly correlates with symptom progression and reduced left ventricular systolic function in the group of patients with severe aortic stenosis. This parameter has the potential to predict the clinical outcomes and could be included in the diagnostic algorithm of patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Keywords: aortic stenosis; left atrial coupling index; echocardiography; parameters

Published: May 1, 2021  Show citation