Left atrial (LA) anatomical remodeling, detected by measuring the diameter or, more comprehensively, the volume with echocardiography is regarded as a marker of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction reflecting an altered dynamics of LV relaxation and filling [1,2]. Therefore, LA enlargement (LAE) is thought as a compensatory mechanism aimed at counterbalancing the increase in LV chamber stiffness due to both structural and functional alterations [3]. It should be noted, however, that LAE may occur before development of frank LV structural and functional alterations such as LV hypertrophy (LVH), systolic or diastolic LV dysfunction [4,5].
