Evaluation of Global Function of the Heart in Scleroderma Patients

• Published in: Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2015-06, Vol.32 (6), p.912-919
• Main Authors: Gerede, Demet Menekse, Turhan, Sibel, Hural, Refika, Acıbuca, Aynur, Kucuksahin, Orhan, Ozcan, Ozgur Ulas, Goksuluk, Huseyin, Vurgun, Veysel Kutay, Erol, Cetin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Echocardiography, Doppler - methods; Female; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Male; Middle Aged; myocardial performance index; Reproducibility of Results; scleroderma; Scleroderma, Systemic - complications; Scleroderma, Systemic - diagnostic imaging; Sensitivity and Specificity; tissue Doppler echocardiography; Ventricular Dysfunction - diagnostic imaging; Ventricular Dysfunction - etiology
• ISSN: 0742-2822; 1540-8175
• DOI: 10.1111/echo.12774

Objective Scleroderma is a connective tissue disease characterized by diffuse vascular lesions and fibrosis of the skin and major organs including lungs, kidneys, and heart. When cardiac involvement is clinically evident, it is recognized as a poor prognostic factor. The early detection of cardiac involvement in scleroderma would be desirable both for implementation of preventive measures in the early stages of the disease and for optimal treatment. Methods Left (LV) and right (RV) ventricular function were examined in 31 scleroderma patients and 21 healthy controls. Conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography was used to evaluate systolic and diastolic function. Systolic indices including systolic (S) velocity, isovolumetric acceleration (IVA), ejection time (ET), and isovolumetric contraction time (IVCT) were measured. Early diastolic (E) velocity, late diastolic (A) velocity, E/A and E’/A’ ratios, isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT), and deceleration time (DT) were the diastolic measurements obtained. Myocardial performance index (Tei index) calculated by 2 different methods was used to assess global ventricular function. Results In our study; mitral S velocity, biventricular ET, E’, E/A, E’/A’, RV IVA, LV IVA, and tricuspid S velocity were significantly lower in scleroderma patients. Mitral DT, IVCT, and biventricular IVRT, were significantly higher in scleroderma patients (P