A transthoracic LAAWV <10cm/s in persistent AF patients with a low CHADS2 score may be a very specific diagnostic tool for evaluating severe SEC, one of the high risk factors for thromboembolism.

Transthoracic TDE can provide information on LAA function. LAA relaxation may be impaired with aging and may be accompanied by early diastolic left ventricular dysfunction and chronic overload to the left atrium.

(r= 0.63, p<0.001 and r=0.71, p<0.001, r=0.21, p=0.049, respectively). LAVpreI was significantly correlated with age (r=0.44, p<0.001), LASVI (r=0.71, p<0.001), TMA (r=0.31, p=0.008) and TMAVTI (r=0.40, p<0.001

The baseline LA function may affect AF recurrence as well as the improvement of LA function, and the benefit of successful PV isolation might be greater in CAF than in PAF.

Higher plasma HANP and lower LAA wall-motion velocity may be noninvasive surrogate markers for assessing left atrial thrombogenesis during sinus rhythm in paroxysmal AF patients.