Which factors impact myocardial function in systemic sclerosis?

The aim of our study was to determine clinical and echocardiographic parameters, which impacted the left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) diastolic and global function in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

The study included 50 SSc patients and 48 age-matched healthy volunteers. All the patients underwent clinical examination, serological tests, pulmonary function testing, and complete two-dimensional echocardiography, which included pulsed and tissue Doppler. We determined the ratio of early diastolic transtricuspid/transmitral and the lateral area of the tricuspid/mitral annulus flow velocities (E/e';(lateral) ). RV and LV global ventricular function was estimated by the Tei index. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was calculated by using echocardiographic parameters.

Tricuspid inflow E/A ratio was decreased in the SSc group (P < 0.001), also as e'/a' ratio (P < 0.001), whereas E/e'(tricuspid) was increased (P = 0.001). The RV Tei index was increased in SSc patients (P < 0.001). PVR was significantly higher than in controls (P < 0.001). The multivariate analysis showed that brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level (β= 0.403, P = 0.016), diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO; β= 0.361, P = 0.025), RV systolic pressure (β= 0.449, P = 0.011), and PVR (β= 0.507, P < 0.001) were independently associated with RV diastolic function (tricuspid E/e'(lateral) ). Similar results were achieved for the RV Tei index. Multiple regression showed that BNP level (β= 0.337, P = 0.029), DLCO (β= 0.405, P = 0.011), and PVR (β= 0.449, P = 0.022) were independently associated with LV diastolic function (mitral E/e'(lateral) ). Similar results were obtained for the LV Tei index.

Our study revealed some new noninvasive parameters (BNP, DLCO, and PVR), which are useful for everyday clinical practice for determining of early myocardial involvement in SSc. (Echocardiography, ****;**:1-11).