Normal values for tissue velocity and strain rate imaging parameters of left and right atrial myocardium in normal subjects

OBJECTIVE: To determine normal values for tissue velocity imaging (TVI) and strain rate imaging (SRI) in the left atrium (LA) and right atrium (RA) in normal subjects. METHODS: A total of 63 healthy volunteers (50.8% male, age: 20-50 years) prospectively underwent TVI and SRI. The peak systolic velocity (TVs), strain (STs) and strain rate (SRs), peak early and late diastolic velocities (TVe and TVa), strain (STe and STa), and strain rate (SRe and SRa) were measured in the base and mid of the LA and RA walls and roofs. RESULTS: By TVI, TVs and TVe of LA walls decreased significantly from basal to mid-level and from mid to the roof. Mean Tva of LA walls reduced significantly from basal to mid-level and to the roof. By SRI, mean STs and STe of LA walls increased remarkably from basal to mid-level and to the roof and also mean SRs, SRe and SRa increased significantly from basal to mid-level and to the roof. For SRe, the changes were also significant from mid-LA wall to the roof. Mean Tvs, Tve, and Tva of the RA walls reduced significantly from base to mid and then to the RA roof. RA systolic, early, and late diastolic ST and SR increased from base to mid and to the roof. CONCLUSION: Peak systolic and diastolic velocities of the LA and RA decreased from the base to the mid and to the roof, while systolic and diastolic ST and SR increased from the base to the mid to the roof.