What causes right atrial hypertrophy?
Disease description:
I’ve recently been experiencing discomfort in my chest. My doctor diagnosed it as being caused by right atrial enlargement. What exactly is right atrial enlargement?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Li Man
Right atrial hypertrophy may result from increased pressure in the right heart system. For example, congenital heart diseases—such as atrial septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, and pulmonary stenosis—elevate right atrial pressure, leading to compensatory hypertrophy. In patients with chronic bronchitis or emphysema, cor pulmonale may develop in advanced stages, potentially causing right atrial hypertrophy. Additionally, patients with right-sided cardiac infarction (e.g., right atrial infarction) seen in cardiology practice may also develop right atrial hypertrophy secondary to myocardial remodeling of the right atrium.
