Evaluation of Global Function of the Heart in Scleroderma Patients. Issue 6 (24th September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gerede, Demet Menekse; Turhan, Sibel; Hural, Refika; Acıbuca, Aynur; Kucuksahin, Orhan; Ozcan, Ozgur Ulas; Goksuluk, Huseyin; Vurgun, Veysel Kutay; Erol, Cetin
• Is Part Of: Echocardiography. Volume 32:Issue 6(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 912
• Page End: 919
• Publication Date: 2014-09-24
• Subjects: Echocardiography -- Periodicals; Echocardiography -- Periodicals; 616.1207543
• DOI: 10.1111/echo.12774
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0742-2822

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="echo12774-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="echo12774-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="echo12774-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="echo12774-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>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 < 0.0001). In addition, RV and LV Tei indices were significantly increased in scleroderma patients compared with the control group (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001, respectively).</p> </sec> <sec id="echo12774-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>In scleroderma patients, global function was depressed prior to the onset of clinical symptoms. Biventricular diastolic and systolic function abnormalities were also observed.</p> </sec> </abstract>