The atrium has been considered for too many years a neglected chamber and the assessment of atrial function is still a challenge. More recently, new noninvasive diagnostic modalities have raised the importance of the atrial function in several diseases. Measuring the independent contribution of the left atrium may have particular relevance for the growing epidemic of atrial fibrillation which currently affects nearly 2% of the general population, with prevalence expected to double by 2050.

A better knowledge and understanding of atrial function in different cardiac diseases (mitral valve disease, cardiomyopathies, coronary artery disease, heart failure, hypertension, congenital heart diseases, etc.) may have a significant clinical impact in the management and in the prognostic evaluation of our patients.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing effort to understand the pathophysiology of atria, basic and translational electrophysiology, the development of better therapeutical strategies, and the evaluation of prognosis of different cardiac diseases where the atria may play a pivotal role.

We are interested in articles describing new imaging modalities for the clinical characterization of the atrial function in different cardiac diseases, the potential prognostic role of the atria, new insight into atrial function using animal models, impact of medical therapy on atrial function, and advance in molecular diagnostics.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Role of new echo techniques in the evaluation of atrial function in different cardiac diseases
• Role of cardiac MRI in the evaluation of atrial function and volumes in different cardiac diseases
• Impact on diagnostic strategies or on prognosis of atrial function
• Impact of different drugs on atrial function and on outcome
• New development in the atrial basic and translational electrophysiology
• New functional and molecular aspects of atrial pathophysiology