Blazicek P
Slovakia
Research Article
Speckle-tracking Echocardiography is More Sensitive in Detecting Subclinical Myocardial Dysfunction in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Author(s): Benacka O, Benacka J, Blazicek P, Belansky M, Payer J, Killinger Z and Lietava JBenacka O, Benacka J, Blazicek P, Belansky M, Payer J, Killinger Z and Lietava J
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 may be detectable more precisely and 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, matched for age, sex, blood pressure, BMI and smoking habit. All subjects underwent a standard echocardiographic and Doppler examination (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 strains and strain rates.
Results: In .. View More»
