Is Left Atrial Function Affected by Coronary Slow Flow? A Two-dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiographic Study

BACKGROUND: The coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) is the slow passage of the angiographic contrast agent to the distal portion of the coronary artery in the absence of significant stenosis. We evaluated the left atrial (LA) function in patients with the CSFP using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2DSTE). METHODS: The LA function was compared through 2DSTE between 36 patients with the CSFP and 36 participants with a normal coronary flow. The two groups were matched for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and the left ventricular function. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the CSFP group and the control group regarding longitudinal systolic strain, early and late diastolic strains, and the strain rate of the LA myocardium. CONCLUSIONS: The LA function as evaluated with 2DSTE was not different between the CSFP group and the normal coronary flow group when they were matched for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, and the left ventricular function.