Quantitative Analysis of Right Atrial Functions by 2D-Speckle Tracking Echocardiography During Healthy Pregnancy

Background: The role of speckle tracking in the assessment of right atrial (RA) deformation parameters has not been investigated yet. The purpose of this article is to establish the effects of normal pregnancy on RA mechanical changes obtained by 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography.

Methodology: A total of 49 healthy pregnant women were included in the study. All participants were followed for each trimester and postpartum period, encompassing standard assessments of both RA and ventricular functions, as well as measurements of RA global peak atrial longitudinal strain (RA-Global-PALS) and RA global peak atrial contraction strain (RA-Global-PACS). Additionally, the RA segments were individually evaluated with respect to strain parameters.

Results: During pregnancy, the increased volume load resulted in elevated RA reservoir function, as indicated by RA-Global-PALS, and increased contraction parameter, as indicated by RA-Global-PACS. These changes were within physiological limits and reversible. Segmental analysis of the right atrium showed similar findings for regional PACS and PALS parameters.

Conclusion: In this study, we established normal RA deformation parameters for healthy pregnancies. These data will aid in discerning various measures of RA phasic function in cardiovascular and systemic conditions among normal pregnant women. Moreover, they may offer insights into potential cardiac pathologies that may arise during the pregnancy.