Alterations in cardiac diastolic function in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

J P Sun1, M A Khan, A Z Farhat

  • 1Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH.

Insights

Ankylosing spondylitis patients show impaired diastolic cardiac function, specifically reduced ventricular relaxation, even without clinical signs of heart disease. This early cardiac alteration may contribute to the known decreased survival in ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Rheumatology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is linked to reduced survival, primarily due to cardiovascular causes.
  • Early detection of cardiac dysfunction in AS patients is crucial for proactive management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate subclinical systolic and diastolic cardiac function in AS patients.
  • To determine if cardiac function alterations precede overt cardiovascular disease in AS.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study utilizing Doppler echocardiography.
  • Evaluated 20 AS patients without clinical cardiovascular disease against 25 healthy controls.
  • Assessed systolic function (wall motion, ejection velocities) and diastolic function (inflow velocities, filling times).

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in atrial, ventricular, or aortic dimensions between groups.
  • Systolic function (ejection indexes, wall motion) was normal in both AS patients and controls.
  • AS patients exhibited impaired diastolic function, including shorter diastolic filling periods and reduced early mitral inflow velocities.

Conclusions:

  • AS patients demonstrate impaired ventricular relaxation, a subclinical diastolic dysfunction.
  • These echocardiographic findings suggest early cardiac changes in AS patients.
  • Diastolic dysfunction may be an early indicator of cardiovascular risk in ankylosing spondylitis.

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