2-D speckle-tracking assessment of left and right ventricular function in rheumatoid arthritis patients with and without disease activity

Comparing Left Ventricular Structure and Functions in End-Stage Renal Disease Using Conventional Echocardiography and 2D Speckle Tracking Echocardiography

BACKGROUND

Patients on hemodialysis (HD) are prone to various cardiovascular complications. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) is an innovative technique for early myocardial dysfunction detection, even with normal ejection fraction (EF).

OBJECTIVE

We aim to detect left ventricle (LV) dysfunction in regular hemodialysis patients using 2D STE compared to traditional echocardiography.

METHODS

The study comprised 30 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), subdivided according to left ventricular mass index (LVMI) into group 1 with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (n=19) and group 2 without LVH (n=11). Another 30 healthy control subjects were recruited as group 3. The EF, average systolic velocity (Sa), and 2D LV strain were taken as measures of LV systolic function. The indicators for diastolic function included the E/A ratio and E velocity/peak early diastolic velocity.

RESULTS

Regarding the parameters of LV systolic and diastolic functions assessed by traditional echocardiography, we found no significant difference between groups 1 and 2. However, using 2D STE, we observed significant differences in the average Sa velocity (p=0.025), average LV strain (p=0.03), 2D global longitudinal strain (GLS) (p=0.03), E/Ea (p=0.003), and LV myocardial performance index (MPI) (p=0.006). Also, a significant positive correlation was found between LVMI and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) (p<0.01, r=0.63), EF measured by 2D (p=0.034, r=0.39), mitral E/A ratio (p=0.03, r=0.49), and mitral E/Ea (p<0.01, r=0.72). There was a significantly strong negative correlation between LVMI and 2D average LV strain (p=0.034, r=-0.39).

CONCLUSION

We concluded that 2D STE is more sensitive than a conventional echo in detecting early LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction even in patients with normal EF.

The importance of speckle tracking echocardiography in the evaluation of cardiac functions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives

In this study, we aimed to analyze the layer-specific strain values obtained by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) method in the determination of subclinical cardiac dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Patients and methods

Between February 2019 and October 2019, a total of 63 female RA patients (mean age: 51.82±6.07 years; range, 40 and 65 years) who had a confirmed diagnosis were included. Thirty-one age-matched female healthy individuals (mean age: 50.71±5.37 years; range, 40 and 65 years) were selected as the control group. The patients were divided into three groups according to the duration of disease as <5 years, 5-10 years and >10 years. The Disease Activity Score in 28 joint - C-reactive protein (CRP) was used to determine disease activation. The standard assessment included complete serum CRP, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide, rheumatoid factor, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and homocysteine. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) analysis was performed with STE.

Results

The NT-proBNP values were found to be higher in RA patients compared to the control group (p=0.044). In terms of conventional echocardiographic parameters, a significant difference between E/A and E/E' ratios was observed (p<0.001 and p=0.015). Endocardium, transmural, and epicardium GLS values obtained by STE were found to be lower in RA patients (p<0.05). The left ventricular (LV) GLS values worsened, as the duration of disease increased (p<0.05). There was a significant correlation between RA disease activity and LV GLS values, showing that increasing levels of disease activity was associated with worse LV GLS (r=0.583, p<0.01 and r=0.681, p<0.01 and r=0.689, p<0.01 for endocardium, transmural and epicardium, respectively).

Conclusion

Our study results suggest that the layer-specific GLS values obtained by STE decrease in RA patients.

Echocardiography Coupled with Strain Method in the Screening for Cardiac Involvement in Rheumatoid Arthritis

OBJECTIVE

In this study, the usefulness of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in systematic screening was assessed for various cardiac abnormalities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

We performed a comparative cross-sectional study from July 2020 to February 2021. Each patient underwent a TTE coupled with the strain technique.

RESULTS

Seventy-two RA patients and 72 controls were included. Abnormalities detected by TTE were more frequent in RA patients (80.6% vs. 36.1%; p < 0.01), and they were asymptomatic in 65.5% of cases. Valvular involvement was found in 45.8% of RA patients, with a significant difference (p < 0.01). Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was also more frequent in the RA group (36.1% vs. 13.9%; p < 0.01). Left ventricular systolic dysfunction was absent in our study, but subclinical left ventricular myocardial damage assessed by Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) method was found in 37.5% of RA patients and 16.6% of controls (p < 0.01). The mean GLS in RA patients was -17.8 ± 2.9 (-22 to -10.7) vs. -19.4 ± 1.9 (-24.7 to -15.7) in controls. Left ventricular hypertrophy was detected in 22.2% of RA patients and in 6.9% of controls (p < 0.01). Pericardial effusion and pulmonary arterial hypertension were present only in the RA group (2.8% of cases). We found a significant relationship between echocardiographic damage and disease activity (p < 0.01), number of painful joints (p < 0.01), functional impact (HAQ) (p = 0.01), CRP level (p < 0.01) and the use and dose of Corticosteroids (p = 0.02; p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Echocardiographic damage in RA is frequent and often asymptomatic, hence there has been an increased interest in systematic screening in order to improve the quality of life and vital prognosis of patients. Early management of RA can reduce the risk of occurrence of cardiac involvement.

Detection of myocardial dysfunction using global longitudinal strain with speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with vs without rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disorder primarily involving the peripheral joints. Systemic involvement can occur, including myocardial dysfunction. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a novel diagnostic study which is recently being used to detect subclinical cardiac dysfunction. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) by STE is more sensitive than standard echocardiographic parameters to detect occult cardiac dysfunction.

METHODS

A systematic search of PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases was performed to identify studies comparing the STE parameters between RA and non-RA patients.

RESULTS

Left ventricular (LV) GLS was significantly lower in patients with RA compared to non-RA patients with a standard mean difference (SMD) of -1.09 (-1.48--0.70, P < 0.001). LV Global Circumferential Strain (GCS) was reported in five studies, and it was found to be lower in RA patients with an SMD of -1.25 (-2.59--0.10; P < 0.0010). Meta regression analysis studies failed to show any significant impact of disease duration, activity, age, sex and BMI on LV GLS and RV GLS.

CONCLUSIONS

RA patients have lower LV GLS and LV GCS compared to controls suggesting impaired myocardial dysfunction. Further studies need to be done to delineate the importance of lower GLS in asymptomatic rheumatoid patients to guide disease management and risk factor modification in this selected population.

Subclinical left ventricular dysfunction and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Aim – to determine the frequency of myocardial dysfunction using echocardiography with speckle tracking (STE) method, the relationship between a low global longitudinal strain (GLS) with the level of NT-proBNP, clinical and laboratory manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis. Material and methods. The study included 43 patients with RA (ACR/EULAR criteria, 2010): 79% women, age – 53.0 [38.0; 63.0] years, disease duration – 60.0 [36; 180] months; DAS28 – 5.9 [5.2; 6.4], positive for ACCP (74%), RF IgM (81%), without prior biological therapy and CVD. Methotrexate was received by 44%, leflunomide – 35%, sulfasalazine – 9.3%, hydroxychloroquine – 7%, glucocorticoids – 67.4%, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – 74% of patients with RA. All RA patients underwent echocardiography – tissue Doppler and STE. The level of NT-proBNP was determined in the blood serum The normal range for NT-proBNP was less than 125 pg/ml.

Results. Low GLS was observed in 26 (61%) patients with RA. RA patients had a decrease GLS, E LV, E’ LV, E/A LV compared with the control group. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) was higher in RA patients (13 (31%) vs 0%). Patients with RA had significantly higher levels of NT-proBNP (114.8 [45.1; 277.5] and 52 [40.5; 69.1] pg/ml) compared with the control group. There were correlations between a low GLS and DAS28 (r=0.9), the number of painful joints (r=0.6), radiological stage (r=0.6) and the presence of systemic manifestations (r=0.5), age (r=–0.9), E LV velocity (r=–0.5) (p<0.05 in all cases). There were correlations between the level of NT-proBNP and the E/A LV ratio (r=–0.4), A LV velocity (r=0.5) (p><0.05 in all cases).>< 0.05 in all cases). There were correlations between the level of NT-proBNP and the E/A LV ratio (r=–0.4), A LV velocity (r=0.5) (p< 0.05 in all cases).

Conclusions. In RA patients with a high frequency the low GLS LV was detected, which is associated with a high activity of the inflammatory process. STE helps to detect myocardial dysfunction in patients with RA at earlier stages than tissue Doppler. The use of STE, the determination of the level of NT-proBNP make it possible to diagnosing preclinical disorders of systolic and diastolic functions of the LV, which can contribute to the early initiation of therapy and improve the prognosis in this category of patients.

Advanced Echocardiography Techniques: The Future Stethoscope of Systemic Diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been showing patterns of extensive rise in prevalence in the contemporary era, affecting the quality of life of millions of people and leading the causes of death worldwide. It has been a provocative challenge for modern medicine to diagnose CVD in its crib, owing to its etiological factors being attributed to a large array of systemic diseases, as well as its non-binary hideous nature that gradually leads to functional disability. Novel echocardiography techniques have enabled the cardiac ultrasound to provide a comprehensive analysis of the heart in an objective, feasible, time- and cost-effective manner. Speckle tracking echocardiography, contrast echocardiography, and 3D echocardiography have shown the highest potential for widespread use. The uses of novel modalities have been elaborately demonstrated in this study as a proof of concept that echocardiography has a place in routine general practice with supportive evidence being as recent as its role in the concurrent COVID-19 pandemic. Despite such evidence, many uses remain off-label and unexploited in practice. Generalization of echocardiography at the point of care can become a much-needed turning point in the clinical approach to case management. To actualize such aspirations, we recommend further prospective and interventional studies to examine the effect of implementing advanced techniques at the point of care on the decision-making process and evaluate their effectiveness in prevention of cardiovascular morbidities and mortalities.

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Detects Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy in Symptomatic Patients with Inflammatory Joint Diseases and a Normal Routine Workup

Background. Patients with inflammatory joint diseases (IJD) are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease compared with the general population. We hypothesized that cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) could identify cardiac abnormalities in patients with IJD and atypical symptoms unexplained by routine clinical evaluation. Patients-Methods. A total of 51 consecutive patients with IJD (32 with rheumatoid arthritis, 10 with ankylosing spondylitis, and 9 with psoriatic arthritis) and normal clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic workups, were referred for CMR evaluation due to atypical chest pain, shortness of breath, and/or palpitations. Their CMR findings were compared with those of 40 non-IJD controls who were referred for the same reason. All participants were examined using either a 1.5 T or 3.0 T CMR system. For T1/T2 mapping, comparisons were performed separately for each field strength. Results. Biventricular systolic function was similar between groups. In total, 25 (49%) patients with IJD vs. 0 (0%) controls had replacement-type myocardial fibrosis (p < 0.001). The T2 signal ratio, early/late gadolinium enhancement, and extracellular volume fraction were significantly higher in the IJD group. Native T1 mapping was significantly higher in patients with IJD independent of the MRI field strength (p < 0.001 for both). T2 mapping was significantly higher in patients with IJD compared with controls only in those examined using a 1.5 T MR system—52.0 (50.0, 55.0) vs. 37.0 (33.5, 39.5), p < 0.001. Conclusions. In patients with IJD and a mismatch between cardiac symptoms and routine non-invasive evaluation, CMR uniquely identified a significant proportion of patients with myocardial inflammation. A CMR examination should be considered in patients with IJD in similar clinical settings.

Selected clinical parameters and changes in cardiac morphology and function assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis without clinically apparent heart disease

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and the cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) changes in people without clinically overt heart disease.

METHODS

The study group consisted of 74 people (48.81 ± 11.35 years): 29 patients with RA, 23 patients with AS and 22 people from control group. Blood samples were taken to assess laboratory parameters, disease activity was determined using activity scales, and CMR was performed.

RESULTS

It was shown that the factors independently related to higher left ventricular mass index are AS occurrence, human B27 leukocyte antigen occurrence, higher neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin concentration (NGAL) and higher body mass index (BMI). The lower right ventricular ejection fraction is result of an independent effect of RA, AS and higher NGAL. RA presence, methotrexate use, higher rheumatoid factor titer, higher NGAL, older age and higher BMI should be considered independent risk factors for greater left ventricular myocardium water content. RA occurrence, AS occurrence, type 2 diabetes occurrence and a higher C-reactive protein concentration can be independently associated with a higher probability of non-ischemic left ventricular myocardium injury. Larger pericardial fluid volume is result of an independent effect of higher NGAL, higher anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies titer and higher DAS28 disease activity index. Use of steroids is protective factor against larger volume of pericardial fluid.

CONCLUSIONS

RA and AS in people without clinically apparent heart disease are associated with the occurrence of adverse changes in CMR. Key Points •RA and AS in people without clinically apparent heart disease are associated with the occurrence of adverse changes in CMR.. •The independent risk factors for higher LVEF are AS occurrence, human B27 leukocyte antigen occurrence, higher NGAL concentration and higher BMI.. •RA presence, methotrexate use, higher RF, higher NGAL, older age and higher BMI are independent risk factors for higher LV T2 ratio.. •RA occurrence, AS occurrence, type 2 diabetes occurrence and a higher CRP are independently associated with a higher risk of non-ischemic LV myocardium injury..

Left ventricular myocardial strain assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Purpose

The aim of the study was to assess a relationship between the occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its selected clinical parameters, and left ventricular myocardial strain.

Material and methods

Fifty-six subjects were qualified for the study: 30 RA patients and 26 subjects without rheumatoid diseases. The study design included taking medical history, assessment of the disease activity using selected scales of activity, collecting samples of venous blood to assess selected laboratory parameters and the assessment of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Using the feature tracking method, the following parameters of the left ventricular myocardial strain were assessed: longitudinal strain (LS), radial strain (RS) and circumferential strain (CS).

Results

Regarding global values, peak LS and peak CS were statistically significantly lower in RA patients than in the control group. In the whole study group, the factors independently related to low global LS peaks were as follows: occurrence of RA, occurrence of arterial hypertension, increased activity of antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide and increased concentration of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin. The occurrence of RA, occurrence of diabetes, tobacco smoking, higher activity of antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide and current use of methotrexate are the risk factors for low peak of global CS. The current use of steroids constitutes a protecting factor against low global CS peaks.

Conclusion

In subjects with no clinically manifested cardiac damage, RA is associated with a deteriorated left ventricular systolic function assessed by left ventricular myocardial strain measured by CMR feature tracking.

Use of speckle tracking to assess heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) currently represents approximately 50% of heart failure (HF) cases in the USA and is increasingly recognized as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Recent data suggest that the prevalence of HFpEF relative to HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is increasing at a rate of 1% per year. With an aging population and increasing risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes mellitus, HFpEF will soon be the most prevalent HF phenotype. Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) has been used to diagnose HFpEF specifically by focusing on the longitudinal systolic function of the left ventricle (LV). Yet there are many patients with HFpEF in whom there are no differences in LV global longitudinal systolic strain, but there are changes in left atrial function and structure. There are several proposed pathophysiological mechanisms for HFpEF such as endothelial dysfunction, interactions among proteins, signaling pathways, and myocardial bioenergetics. Yet only one specific therapy, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, spironolactone, is recommended as a treatment for patients with HFpEF. However, spironolactone does not address many of the pathophysiologic changes that occur in HFpEF, thus new novel therapeutic agents are needed. With the limited available therapies, clinicians should use STE to assess for the presence of this syndrome in their patients to provide effective diagnosis and management.