Evaluation of changes in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure by left atrial two-dimensional echocardiography.

Two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) measurements of left atrial (LA) cross-sectional areas were compared in closed-chest dogs with concurrent high-fidelity recordings of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) measurements. One hundred forty-three simultaneous determinations of LVEDP and end-diastolic as well as end-systolic LA cross-sectional areas were obtained in eight dogs during control, after coronary artery occlusion, and following alterations in LV preload and afterload. Correlation coefficients for LVEDP versus LA end-diastolic cross-sectional area ranged from 0.85 to 0.97 in the eight dogs, with standard errors of estimate from 1.89 to 5.43 mm Hg. These findings suggest that 2DE measurements of changes in LA size may facilitate noninvasive evaluation of alterations in LVEDP in patients with LV failure or undergoing interventions.