Reduced Left Atrial Rotational Flow Is Independently Associated With Embolic Brain Infarcts.

Background: Up to 25% of embolic strokes occur in individuals without atrial fibrillation (AF) or other identifiable mechanisms.

Objectives: This study aims to assess whether left atrial (LA) blood flow characteristics are associated with embolic brain infarcts, independently of AF.

Methods: The authors recruited 134 patients: 44 with a history of ischemic stroke and 90 with no history of stroke but CHADSVASc score ≥1.

Effect of Weight Loss on Early Left Atrial Myopathy in People With Obesity But No Established Cardiovascular Disease.

Background Obesity is associated with left atrial (LA) remodeling (ie, dilatation and dysfunction) which is an independent determinant of future cardiovascular events. We aimed to assess whether LA remodeling is present in obesity even in individuals without established cardiovascular disease and whether it can be improved by intentional weight loss. Methods and Results Forty-five individuals with severe obesity without established cardiovascular disease (age, 45±11 years; body mass index; 39.

The impact of atrial fibrillation and stroke risk factors on left atrial blood flow characteristics.

Aims: Altered left atrial (LA) blood flow characteristics account for an increase in cardioembolic stroke risk in atrial fibrillation (AF). Here, we aimed to assess whether exposure to stroke risk factors is sufficient to alter LA blood flow even in the presence of sinus rhythm (SR).

Methods And Results: We investigated 95 individuals: 37 patients with persistent AF, who were studied before and after cardioversion [Group 1; median CHA2DS2-VASc = 2.

Left atrial 4D flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance: a reproducibility study in sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation.

Background: Four-dimensional (4D) flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) allows sophisticated quantification of left atrial (LA) blood flow, and could yield novel biomarkers of propensity for intra-cardiac thrombus formation and embolic stroke. As reproducibility is critically important to diagnostic performance, we systematically investigated technical and temporal variation of LA 4D flow in atrial fibrillation (AF) and sinus rhythm (SR).

Methods: Eighty-six subjects (SR, n = 64; AF, n = 22) with wide-ranging stroke risk (CHADSVASc 0-6) underwent LA 4D flow assessment of peak and mean velocity, vorticity, vortex volume, and stasis.