Home Bratislava Medical Journal 2017 Bratislava Medical Journal Vol.118, No.1, p.28-33, 2017

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Published Monthly, in English
Founded: 1919
ISSN 0006-9248
(E)ISSN 1336-0345

Impact factor 1.564

 

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Bratislava Medical Journal Vol.118, No.1, p.28-33, 2017

Title: Speckle tracking can detect subclinical myocardial dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis patients
Author: O. Benacka, J. Benacka, P. Blazicek, M. Belansky, J. Payer, Z. Killinger, J. Lietava

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have shorter life expectancy and their risk of cardiovascular death is more than 50 % higher than the rest of the population. Early myocardial dysfunction in RA patients may be detectable sooner using speckle‑tracking echocardiography.
METHOD: Cross-sectional study enrolled 55 patients with RA (mean age 44.1 years) without known cardiovascular disease and 31 healthy controls. All subjects underwent a standard echocardiographic examination: indexed left ventricular mass, left ventricle ejection fraction, isovolumic contraction and relaxation times (IVCT and IVRT), mitral valve inflow curve (E/A), septal mitral annular motion (e’), and E/e’ ratio as well as the speckle tracking assessment of left ventricle longitudinal, radial and circular strain and strain rate.
RESULTS: In standard echocardiographic examination RA patients exhibited higher indexed left ventricle mass (96.36±20.90 g/m2 vs 95.84±21.86 %, p=0.013), lower ejection fraction (64.84±3.87 % vs 67.10±3.87 %, p=0.011) and prolonged IVCT (61.51±9.30 ms vs 53.71±8.95 ms, p=0.001). Diastolic dysfunction was demonstrated by prolonged IVRT (81.62±9.56 ms vs 74.58±12.02 ms, p=0.007) as well as by higher E/e’ ratio (8.21±1.76 vs 7.21±1.52, p=0.009). Speckle‑tracking method detected lower global longitudinal epicardial strain (–19.51 % vs –21.46 %, p=0.049). Radial, circular, and transversal strains and strain rates were same in both groups. Global longitudinal epicardial strain correlated with IVCT and IVRT, disease duration, and markers of myocardial damage NTproBNP.
CONCLUSIONS: Standard echocardiographic assessment of myocardial function is examiner- and angle-dependent method with considerable limitations for evaluation of minimal subclinical changes. Speckle-tracking echocardiography significantly revealed incipient myocardial dysfunction in RA patients without overt cardiovascular diseases. This correlates with clinical RA characteristics and markers of cardiac damage (Tab. 4, Ref. 48).

Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis, left ventricle longitudinal strain, speckle-tracking echocardiography, cardiovascular risk, diastolic dysfunction.
Published online: 26-Jan-2017
Year: 2017, Volume: 118, Issue: 1 Page From: 28, Page To: 33
doi:10.4149/BLL_2017_006


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