Right Atrium Enlargemnet (RAE)

Right atrial enlargement is a form of cardiomegaly. It can broadly be classified as either right atrial hypertrophy (RAH) or dilation. Common causes include right ventricular failure, pulmonary hypertension, tricuspid regurgitation, tricuspid stenosis and atrial septal defect.It is characterized by a P wave height greater than 2.5 mm.

Right atrial enlargement describes an increase in the size of the upper chamber, or atrium, on the right-hand side of the heart. In adults, conditions which lead to enlargement of the right atrium usually also cause the corresponding lower chamber, or ventricle, to grow in size. Since blood travels from the right side of the heart directly to the lungs, right atrial enlargement can be associated with diseases which raise blood pressure in the lungs, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Some types of congenital heart disease also cause an enlargement of the right atrium by allowing blood to pass from the left side of the heart to the right or to flow back from the ventricle into the atrium.