Diastolic left ventricular dysfunction in ankylosing spondylitis--a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sjoerd C Heslinga1, Carlo J Van Dongen2, Thelma C Konings3

  • 1Department of Rheumatology, Reade, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Rheumatology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Insights

Ankylosing spondylitis patients show increased diastolic left ventricular dysfunction. This condition, a precursor to heart failure, is more prevalent in AS patients than in controls, indicating a higher cardiovascular risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Rheumatology
  • Echocardiography

Background:

  • Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is linked to higher mortality, primarily from cardiovascular disease.
  • Diastolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction precedes heart failure and contributes to morbidity and mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and determine the prevalence of diastolic LV dysfunction in patients diagnosed with AS.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted a systematic literature search for echocardiographic studies on diastolic LV function in AS patients.
  • Included 11 studies that met the selection criteria from an initial pool of 166.

Main Results:

  • AS patients exhibited impaired diastolic LV function, evidenced by a worse E/A ratio, prolonged deceleration time, and prolonged isovolumetric relaxation time compared to controls.
  • Studies combining these parameters confirmed a higher prevalence of diastolic LV dysfunction in AS patients (ranging from 9% to 45%) versus controls (0% to 18%).

Conclusions:

  • Findings support an elevated risk of diastolic LV dysfunction in individuals with AS.
  • Further large-scale research is necessary to quantify this risk and understand its clinical significance in AS management.
Abstract

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