Right ventricular diastolic abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis and its relationship with left ventricular and pulmonary involvement. A tissue Doppler echocardiographic study

Evaluation of left ventricular systolic synchrony by peak strain dispersion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective

To investigate the clinical value of the peak strain dispersion (PSD) in evaluating left ventricular (LV) systolic synchrony in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

One hundred eleven patients with RA were divided into two groups according to their disease duration: <5 years (Group I, n = 60) and ≥5 years (Group II, n = 51). The control group comprised 57 healthy subjects without RA. All three groups were examined by transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography. Traditional parameters were measured by conventional echocardiography. Two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging was used to analyze the PSD and LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS). Related ultrasound and blood test results were analyzed and compared.

Results

The PSD gradually increased in the order of the control group, Group I, and Group II, and the difference among the groups was statistically significant. The LVGLS gradually decreased in the order of the control group, Group I, and Group II, and the difference among the groups was statistically significant. The PSD was negatively correlated with the LVGLS.

Conclusions

LV systolic synchrony in patients with RA gradually decreases as the disease course progresses. The PSD can be used as a new reliable index to evaluate LV systolic synchrony.

Chronic Heart Failure in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients (Part II): Difficulties of Diagnosis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by a twofold increase in morbidity and mortality due to chronic heart failure (CHF). At the same time, the prevalence of CHF among RA patients is significantly underestimated. The aim of the review was to analyze the results of the main studies on the features of the clinical presentation of heart failure (HF) in RA patients, the role of visualization techniques and biomarkers in the diagnosis of HF and preclinical dysfunction of the myocardium. HF in patients with RA is characterized by a predominance of HF with a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The use of clinical diagnostic criteria in RA patients can lead to both over- or underdiagnosis of CHF. Systolic dysfunction estimated by LVEF is rare in RA and does not reflect the real frequency of myocardial dysfunction. Echocardiography (ECHO-CG) with tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) and visualization of myocardial deformation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the heart in RA patients revealed a high frequency of HF with preserved ejection fraction, left ventricular remodeling and hypertrophy, pre-clinical systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Determination of natriuretic peptides is useful for verifying the diagnosis of HF and estimating the prognosis in this cohort, despite the possible decrease in the sensitivity and specificity of these indicators in RA patients. The review discusses the advantages of MRI of the heart, including quantitative T1 and T2 regimens, in the diagnosis of myocarditis, myocardial fibrosis, and myocardial perfusion disorders in RA patients. In order to verify the diagnosis of heart failure and detect pre-clinical myocardial dysfunction in RA patients, the determination of natriuretic peptides concentration should become part of the routine examination, beginning with the debut of the disease, along with the collection of a cardiological history, physical examination, ECHO-CT with TDE, and visualization of myocardial deformation. Evaluation of the quantitative characteristics of tissue according to MRI of the heart could improve the diagnosis of myocardial damage.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects left ventricular mass: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease represents one of the most important extra-articular causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Evidences showed that several cardiac structures can be affected during the course of the disease as well as abnormalities of left ventricular diastolic filling. Contrasting data are available about left ventricular mass (LVM) involvement in patients asymptomatic for cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize the effects of RA on LVM in rheumatoid arthritis patients without cardiovascular disease.

METHODS

A systematic research of the current case-control studies was conducted in Medline on November 20th, 2013. Studies were included if data of measurements of LVM were reported. The pooled mean effect size estimate was calculated according to methods described by Hedges and Olkin.

RESULTS

Sixteen eligible studies were included in this meta-analysis. RA determines an increase of absolute and indexed LVM compared with control patients [standardized mean difference (95% CI): 0.41(0.15-0.66) and 0.47(0.32-0.62), respectively]. On the contrary, posterior wall thickness did not show a significant RA effect. Finally, a significant positive effect of RA on interventricular wall thickness was found [standardized mean difference (95% CI): 0.39 (0.07-0.71)].

CONCLUSIONS

Results of this meta-analysis suggest that increased absolute and indexed LVM seem to be characteristic of RA patients with a fundamental clinical significance since they are related to an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Our data suggest the use of LVM as surrogate end-point for clinical trials involving RA patients.

Survival in rheumatoid arthritis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension compared with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

In this study, we evaluated survival in rheumatoid arthritis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (RA-PAH) compared with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) patients, and evaluate differences in disease severity and treatment.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of RA-PAH and IPAH at the University Health Network Pulmonary Hypertension Programme, Toronto, Canada. The primary outcome was time to all-cause mortality. We evaluated survival using Kaplan-Meier curves. Using a propensity score-matched cohort, we used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate survival.

RESULTS

Screening 1385 patients identified 18 RA-PAH and 155 IPAH patients. RA-PAH patients had an older median age of onset (64.0 vs 53.7 years) and lower baseline mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) (41 vs 50 mm Hg, P = 0.02). RA-PAH patients tended to have a higher proportion of females (83% vs 70%, relative risk 0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.19-1.57), lower proportion with baseline World Health Organization functional class III/IV (39% vs 52%), lower median baseline brain natriuretic peptide (58.4 vs 95.0 pg/mL) and longer baseline 6-min walk distance (440 vs 397 m). There were 35 deaths, 2/18 (11%) RA-PAH patients and 33/155 (21%) IPAH patients. The unadjusted 1-year survival was 93% for RA-PAH and 94% for IPAH. In the matched cohort, there were seven deaths: 2/18 (11%) RA-PAH and 5/18 (28%) IPAH patients, hazard ratio 1.53 (95% CI: 0.15-2.84). Separation of survival curves did not achieve statistical significance, log-rank 0.56.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with IPAH patients, RA-PAH patients have an older age of onset and lower baseline mPAP. RA-PAH patients have comparable survival to IPAH patients.

Right ventricular involvement in diabetic cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE

To compare magnetic resonance imaging-derived right ventricular (RV) dimensions and function between men with type 2 diabetes and healthy subjects, and to relate these parameters to left ventricular (LV) dimensions and function.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

RV and LV volumes and functions were assessed in 78 men with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes and 28 healthy men within the same range of age using magnetic resonance imaging. Steady-state free precession sequences were used to assess ventricular dimensions. Flow velocity mapping across the pulmonary valve and tricuspid valve was used to assess RV outflow and diastolic filling patterns, respectively. Univariate general linear models were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

RV end-diastolic volume was significantly decreased in patients compared with healthy subjects after adjustment for BMI and pulse pressure (177 ± 28 mL vs. 197 ± 47 mL, P < 0.01). RV systolic function was impaired: peak ejection rate across the pulmonary valve was decreased (433 ± 54 mL/s vs. 463 ± 71 mL/s, P < 0.01) and pulmonary flow acceleration time was longer (124 ± 17 ms vs. 115 ± 25 ms, P < 0.05). Indexes of RV diastolic function were impaired: peak filling rate and peak deceleration gradient of the early filling phase were 315 ± 63 mL/s vs. 356 ± 90 mL/s (P < 0.01) and 2.3 ± 0.8 mL/s(2) × 10(-3) vs. 2.8 ± 0.8 mL/s(2) × 10(-3) (P < 0.01), respectively. All RV parameters were strongly associated with its corresponding LV parameter (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetic cardiomyopathy affects the right ventricle, as demonstrated by RV remodeling and impaired systolic and diastolic functions in men with type 2 diabetes, in a similar manner as changes in LV dimensions and functions. These observations suggest that RV impairment might be a component of the diabetic cardiomyopathy phenotype.

The forgotten chamber: right-ventricular functions in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Cardiac involvement, such as pericarditis, myocarditis, and endocarditis, is seen in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Although there have been some reports about right-ventricular systolic and diastolic functions of adults with rheumatoid arthritis and left-ventricular systolic and diastolic functions of children with JIA, there have been no studies about RV functions of children with JIA. The aim of this study was to determine RV functions in children with JIA. We performed conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging measurements of the right ventricle of patients with JIA. All patients were in sinus rhythm at the time of examination without overt LV heart failure and with normal LV ejection fraction. Fifty-five children with the diagnosis of JIA and 33 healthy control subjects were included in the study. Peak systolic, early, and late diastolic tricuspid annular velocities were significantly decreased in JIA patients compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05). Isovolumic accelaration (IVA), as a measure of myocardial acceleration during isovolumic contraction of the right ventricle, was also significantly lower in JIA patients than in healthy controls (p < 0.05). RV systolic and diastolic functions, in addition to the previously shown LV functions, are affected in JIA patients. IVA decreases in JIA patients and may be used as an alternative, noninvasive parameter for the assessment of RV systolic function in children with JIA.