[HSF] LA Size, correlation with valve disease

[Nasser F. Abou'Seada]

I would think, and concur with the thought, that the size of the LA is
probably related to mechanical stretch during active carditis, rather than
to a mere mechanical consequence alone ... just speculations ... !!

NFA

> From: Rwmfglycar at aol.com
> Prasanna,
> The truly giant ones (much more than 6 cm) that I saw in the  past were
> always rheumatics with dominant stenosis (when they had mitral  and
tricuspid
> disease we called them "wall to wall hearts").
> My suspicion was that the very high mean pressures  of dominant mitral
> stenosis combined with rheumatic carditis of the atrial wall accounted for
the
> extreme forms of atrial enlargement.
> Atrial enlargement obviously also occurs with organic mitral Mitr  Reg..
> Severe organic MR can go on for 5 years or more before  producing
secondary
> ventricular dysfunction. On the other hand mitral  insufficiency secondary
to
> ventricular dysfunction is of a lesser degree for a  much shorter time
before
> surgery becomes urgent. Giant left atria have  less time and less stimulus
to
> form. I certainly never saw really giant  left atria in ventricular
mechanism MR.
> Maybe Hal  or other HSF members  have seen some in their collective large
> experience.
> Yours
> Bob
> 
> 
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