Increase in atrial size in long-term survivors of heart transplant

Sirolimus As Primary Immunosuppressant Reduces Left Ventricular Mass and Improves Diastolic Function of the Cardiac Allograft

“…Although the cause of LA enlargement after heart transplantation is thought to be multifactorial, we suggest that an increase in left atrial volume may be a marker of diastolic dysfunction of the cardiac allograft. Significant increase in LA size posttransplantation correlates inversely with survival (43). The present study showed that conversion to SRL with complete withdrawal of CNI is followed by decrease in left atrial volume suggesting that SRL may improves diastolic function of cardiac allograft.…”

13 Cardiac Allograft Hypertrophy Is Associated with Impaired Exercise Tolerance after Heart Transplantation

“…However, an increase in left atrial size post heart transplantation correlates inversely with survival and hence is an important echocardiographic parameter for the heart transplant recipient. (38). In the present study LA volume increased in the CR and the CH groups during follow-up and was significantly higher when measured at the time of the CPET in the CH and the CR groups as compared to the NG patients.…”

Influence of Different Implantation Techniques on Long-term Survival After Orthotopic Heart Transplantation: An Echocardiographic Study

“…A significant inverse correlation between the size of the left and right atria and donor and recipient atrial remnants with 5-year post-transplant survival has been reported previously. 16,21 The bicaval technique is free of geometric distortion and asynchronous contraction resulting from the donor/recipient atrial connections. 6,7 It has been shown previously that, with the bicaval technique, both atria were smaller and there was greater right and left atrial emptying and pump function.…”