Objective with essential hypertension by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging（2 D-STI）.Methods hypertension were involved.According to the left atrial volume index

they were divided into left atrial remodeling group（LAR group

n=20）and without left atrial remodeling group（LAN group

n=21）

and 25 healthy subjects were enrolled as control group.The mean strains rates（mSRs

mSRe

mSRa）of left atrial wall and atrial septum were measured by 2 D-STI technique.The left atrial maximum volume（LAVmax）

left atrial pre-systolic volume（LAVpre）

left atrial minimum volume（LAVmin）were obtained by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography（RT-3 DE）combined with ECG phase. Meanwhile

the left atrial passive emptying index（LAEFp）

left atrial active emptying index（LAEFa）and left atrial dilation index（LAEF）were calculated.Atrial septal thickness in systolic period（IASTs）and atrial septal thickness in diastolic period（IASTd）were measured by Mmode ultrasound

and the atrial septal thickening rate（ASTDF）was calculated.The differences of the above parameters in each group was compared

and the correlation between the atrial septal thickening rate and the left atrial function parameters was analyzed.ResultsLAN group

while the m SRa

LAEFa and ASTDF were increased（all P<0.05）.Compared with the LAR group

m SRs

m SRe

LAEFp and LAEF were significantly decreased in the LAR group

while the m SRa

LAEFa

IASTs

IASTd and ASTDF wereincreased（all P<0.05）.There was positive correlation between ASTDF and LAEFa

m SRa

LAEF

respectively（r=0.568

0.249

0.266

all P<0.05）.Conclusion2 D-STI technique can detect the changes of left atrial structure and function in patients withessential hypertension at early stage. Atrial septal thickness and ASTDF can be used as supplementary predictors of earlychanges in left atrial function.