Can an atrial septal defect cause enlargement of the left atrium and left ventricle?
Disease description:
During a recent physical exam, I was found to have an atrial septal defect. I heard from others that an atrial septal defect can lead to enlargement of the left atrium and left ventricle over time. Could an atrial septal defect cause enlargement of the left atrium and left ventricle?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Jianbin
A large atrial septal defect (ASD) can lead to enlargement of the left atrium and left ventricle. In the early stages of ASD, due to the communication between the left and right atria and the higher pressure in the left heart compared to the right, blood shunts from the left atrium to the right atrium. This causes the right atrium to enlarge first, while enlargement of the left atrium and left ventricle is not obvious. As the disease progresses, pulmonary vascular resistance gradually increases, leading to pulmonary hypertension. The pressure in the right atrium may eventually exceed that in the left atrium, resulting in a right-to-left shunt. At this stage, the left heart system also begins to enlarge. Therefore, in the late stages of ASD, patients may develop enlargement of the left atrium and left ventricle, left ventricular dysfunction, and may also have complications such as pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure, potentially leading to global heart failure.
