Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to elicit the relation between the left atrial load and its contractile function. Methods: 33 patients, 56.9±6.7 y.o., were enrolled in the study. All of them underwent transesophageal echocardiography due to different clinical indications. The Doppler spectrum of transmitral and pulmonary vein flow, left atrial dimensions and volumes were estimated. Results: The links between left atrial contractility indices, its pressure and filling were determined. This supports the hypothesis of the Frank-Starling law validity for the human left atrium in vivo. Conclusion: In the human heart in vivo there is an inverse exponential relationship between the left atrial volume (preload) and pressure (afterload) load and its active contractility, as well as a positive linear relationship between the afterload and contractility.