Relationship of left atrial size and function to invasive left ventricular filling pressure: a cardiac MRI study

Background Increased left atrial (LA) size measured at left ventricular (LV) end systole is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in population based studies. LA function can be divided into 3 components: LA filling during LV systole, a passive emptying phase during early diastole and active atrial systole during LV late diastole. We sought to assess the relationships of LA volume and emptying function to invasive LV end diastolic pressure (LVEDP).