Assessment of Left Atrial Volumes and Functions in Patients with Coronary Slow Flow

Abstract

Objectives: Coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) is the slow or late progression of the opaque material to the distal vascular structures during angiography in patients with normal or near-normal coronary arteries. This study aims to evaluate left atrial volumes and functions using conventional transthoracic and tissue Doppler echocardiographic parameters in patients with CSFP. Materials and Methods: According to criteria determined by Gibson, 50 patients with slow flow in at least one coronary artery were included as cases, and 40 subjects with normal coronary flow were included as controls. Results: In the transmitral and tissue Doppler analysis, mitral early velocity (E), mitral late velocity/mitral early velocity (E/A), and Em were significantly lower in the coronary slow flow (CSF) group. LA, Am, mitral early velocity/earlydiastolic velocity (E/Em), LAVmax, LAVmin, LAVpreA, index volumes, LAAEV, LATEV, and LAAEF were found to be higher in the CSF group. A significant positive correlation was observed between Frame LAD and LAAEF (r=0.66, p