Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 1, 2025
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Prevalence and risk factors for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in systemic sclerosis: a multi-center study of
Min Hui1, Jiaxin Zhou1, Liyun Zhang2
1Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
Insights
Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) affects over 30% of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. Key predictors include older age, pulmonary arterial hypertension, anti-RNP antibodies, elevated white blood cell count, and metabolic factors.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rheumatology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is a significant cardiac complication in systemic sclerosis (SSc).
- LVDD is associated with increased mortality in SSc patients.
- Risk factors for SSc-LVDD remain poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of LVDD in a cohort of SSc patients.
- To identify potential predictors and risk factors associated with LVDD in SSc.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, multi-center cohort study involving 784 SSc patients.
- Echocardiography was used for LVDD assessment.
- Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of LVDD was 31.4% (246/784) among SSc patients.
- Independent predictors of LVDD included older age at onset, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), positive anti-RNP antibody, increased white blood cell (WBC) count, elevated uric acid, and triglyceride levels.
- No significant differences in gender, BMI, or disease duration were observed between groups.
Conclusions:
- LVDD is a prevalent complication in the SSc population.
- Advanced age at onset, PAH, anti-RNP antibody positivity, elevated WBC count, and adverse metabolic status are independent risk factors for SSc-related LVDD.
Objective:
Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is a common manifestation of cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc), which is associated with increased mortality, but little is known about the risk factors. The aim is to determine the frequency and potential predictors of SSc-LVDD.
Methods:
We conducted a prospective multi-center cohort study, enrolling 784 SSc patients assessed by echocardiography between April 2008 and June 2019. Diagnosis of systemic sclerosis was according to the 2013 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification criteria. Data were compared between patients with and without LVDD, while univariate and multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine the factors independently associated with LVDD.
Results:
LV diastolic dysfunction was present in 246/784 (31.4%) of the subjects. There were no significant differences in gender, BMI, or disease duration between the two groups. Around 40% of the patients in the SSc-LVDD group and in the SSc-non LVDD group had diffused cutaneous involvements. Factors independently associated with LV diastolic dysfunction in multivariable analysis included age at onset (OR 1.053, 95%CI 1.021-1.086, p = 0.001), pulmonary arterial hypertension (OR 3.057, 95%CI 1.468-6.367, p = 0.003), positivity of anti-RNP antibody (OR 2.455, 95%CI 1.049-5.745, p = 0.038), increased WBC count (OR 1.156, 95%CI 1.037-1.287, p = 0.009), elevated levels of uric acid (OR 1.003, 95%CI 1.000-1.006, p = 0.036), and triglyceride (OR 1.515, 95%CI 1.106-2.077, p = 0.010).
Conclusion:
LV diastolic dysfunction was prevalent in the SSc population. Advanced onset age, PAH, positive anti-RNP antibody, increased WBC count, and adverse metabolic status were independent risk factors for SSc-related LVDD. Key Points • In this Chinese multi-center cohort of systemic sclerosis, LVDD is not a rare complication, with a prevalence of 31.4%. • The presence of advanced onset age, PAH, positive anti-RNP antibody, increased WBC count and adverse metabolic status were baseline predictors of developing LVDD in SSc.
More Related Videos
11:00Assessment of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Reserve and Intracellular Diastolic Calcium Removal in Isolated Ventricular Cardiomyocytes
Published on: September 18, 2017
07:11Morphological and Functional Assessment of the Right Ventricle Using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:29Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
01:30Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
01:22Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
01:29Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
01:23Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction
01:29Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology