Tissue Doppler imaging in systemic sclerosis: a 3-year longitudinal study

Association between systemic sclerosis and left ventricle dysfunction: Findings from observational studies

Objectives

Cardiac involvement is common in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. In this study, we aimed to systematically evaluate the relationship between SSc and left ventricular dysfunction (LVD), especially the left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, by ultrasound and cardiac magnetic resonance data.

Methods

We searched The Cochrane Library, PubMed and Embase databases collected studies about comparing LVD parameters in SSc patients and controls from establishment to January 2022. Furthermore, we also performed a two-sample MR using summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) important LVD parameters, including left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular mass (LVM) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Results

Our meta-analysis included 31 eligible studies with 1448 SSc patients. According to the results, SSc patients had lower peak of early diastolic flow velocity/peak of late diastolic flow velocity ratio (E/A ratio), E, trans-mitral early filling peak velocity (E'), and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) compared to controls. The E/E' ratio, A, left ventricular isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT), deceleration Time (DT) and left atrial (LA) diameter were higher in SSc patients in comparison with controls. Moreover, we observed that the SSc patients had lower LVEF than controls. And in MR analysis, we also found that SSc was causally correlated with LVEF (OR = 0.9966, 95% CI 0.9935-0.998, P = 0.0398). However, unfortunately, there was no significant correlation between SSC and LVM (OR = 1.0048, 95% CI 0.9919-1.0179, P = 0.4661) and LVEDV (LVEDV OR = 0.9976, 95%CI 0.9888-1.0066, P = 0.6019).

Conclusion

SSc patients had diastolic/systolic dysfunction. However, MR analysis cannot confirm the genetic relationship between SSc and LVDD because of insufficient data. More research is needed to confirm the causal relationship between the two.

Subclinical Systemic Sclerosis Primary Heart Involvement by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Shows No Significant Interval Change

OBJECTIVE

Subclinical systemic sclerosis (SSc) primary heart involvement is commonly described. Whether these findings progress over time is not clear. The study aimed to investigate cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) interval change of subclinical SSc primary heart involvement.

METHODS

Patients with SSc with no cardiovascular disease underwent two CMR scans that included T1 mapping and quantitative stress perfusion. The CMR change (mean difference) and association between CMR measures and clinical phenotype were assessed. The study had a prospective design.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients with SSc participated, with a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 33 (17-37) months (10 [32%] in the diffuse subset, 16 [52%] with interstitial lung disease [ILD], and 11 [29%] who were Scl-70+). Four of thirty-one patients had focal late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) at visit 1; one of four had an increase in LGE scar mass between visits. Two patients showed new focal LGE at visit 2. No change in other CMR indices was noted. The three patients with SSc with increased or new LGE at visit 2 had diffuse cutaneous SSc with ILD, and two were Scl-70+. A reduction in forced vital capacity and total lung capacity was associated with a reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (ρ = 0.413, P = 0.021; ρ = 0.335, P = 0.07) and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) (ρ = 0.543, P = 0.007; ρ = 0.627, P = 0.002). An increase in the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level was associated with a reduction in MPR (ρ = -0.448, P = 0.042). Patients on disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) had an increase in native T1 (mean [SD] 1208 [65] vs. 1265 [56] milliseconds, P = 0.008). No other clinically meaningful CMR change in patients receiving DMARDs or vasodilators was noted.

CONCLUSION

Serial CMR detects interval subclinical SSc primary heart involvement progression; however, this study suggests abnormalities remain largely stable with follow-up.

Heart Valve Abnormalities in Systemic Sclerosis Patients: A Multicenter Cohort Study and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is characterized by vasculopathy and fibrosis of the skin and visceral organs. Heart valve diseases are poorly described and generally not considered typical of SSc. We aimed to describe valvular abnormalities in a multicenter cohort of SSc patients and to investigate their correlation with SSc features.

METHODS

We recruited 118 consecutive SSc patients (male/female, 14/104; mean age, 55.2 ± 12.1 years) in 3 rheumatology centers in Sicily, Italy, from January to October 2019.

RESULTS

Mitral and tricuspid valve insufficiency was found in 85% and 91% of patients, respectively; regurgitations were generally mild and never severe. Mitral stenosis was rare (2%), and tricuspid stenosis was not observed. Sclerosis and calcification were present in 30% of mitral valves and in only 4% of tricuspid valves. The aortic valve was affected in 25% of cases, and it generally presented as regurgitation or sclerosis, whereas stenosis was rare (3%). Finally, 11% of SSc patients showed regurgitation of the pulmonary valve. No specific associations between SSc features and valve alterations were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Valvular diseases are frequently observed in SSc patients, with a predominant pattern of valvular regurgitations. Therefore, echocardiography should be routinely performed during SSc patient follow-up, considering the potential influence of additional cardiac involvement in the prognosis of these patients.

Performance of a new quantitative computed tomography index for interstitial lung disease assessment in systemic sclerosis

Quantitative high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) may objectively assess systemic sclerosis (SSc)-interstitial lung disease (ILD) extent, using three basic densitometric measures: mean lung attenuation (MLA), skewness, and kurtosis. This prospective study aimed to develop a composite index - computerized integrated index (CII) – that accounted for MLA, skewness, and kurtosis by means of Principal Component Analysis over HRCTs of 83 consecutive SSc subjects, thus eliminating redundancies. Correlations among CII, cardiopulmonary function and immune-inflammatory biomarkers (e.g. sIL-2Rα and CCL18 serum levels) were explored. ILD was detected in 47% of patients at visual HRCT assessment. These patients had worse CII values than patients without ILD. The CII correlated with lung function at both baseline and follow-up, and with sIL-2Rα and CCL18 serum levels. The best discriminating CII value for ILD was 0.1966 (AUC = 0.77; sensitivity = 0.81 [95%CI:0.68–0.92]; specificity = 0.66 [95%CI:0.52–0.80]). Thirty-four percent of patients without visual trace of ILD had a CII lower than 0.1966, and 67% of them had a diffusing lung capacity for CO <80% of predicted. We showed that this new composite CT index for SSc-ILD assessment correlates with both lung function and immune-inflammatory parameters and could be sufficiently sensitive for capturing early lung density changes in visually ILD-free patients.

T1 mapping cardiac magnetic resonance imaging frequently detects subclinical diffuse myocardial fibrosis in systemic sclerosis patients

OBJECTIVES

cardiac involvement is the second most frequent systemic sclerosis (SSc) related cause of death. It remains mostly asymptomatic in the early stage and is underdiagnosed with routine screening. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) could improve cardiac assessment of patients and noteworthily, new sequences allow the detection of diffuse myocardial fibrosis (DMF) by native T1 mapping. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cardiac involvement by CMR native T1 mapping and its correlation with echocardiography data and non-cardiac manifestations in SSc patients.

METHODS

patients fulfilling the ACR/EULAR classification criteria for SSc were prospectively included between 2014 and 2016. They underwent CMR at 1.5T, including native T1 and T2 mapping, and Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE) as a part of routine follow up. Routine biological tests (mainly BNP and CRP) were centralized in the hospital laboratory.

RESULTS

seventy-two unselected patients were included. Thirty six patients (50%) had elevated T1 (ET1) (mean T1 1097±14 ms). CMR cardiac functional parameters were similar in ET1 and normal T1 (NT1). Echocardiography was normal in 18 (50%) of ET1. ET1 and NT1 groups were similar for cardiovascular risk factors and ischemic heart disease. ET1 was not correlated with any clinical or echocardiographic parameter or antibody profile. Thirty-six percent of patients with ET1 had no cardiac symptoms, normal echocardiography and CMR LVEF, and no LGE.

CONCLUSION

native T1 mapping detects left ventricular ET1 (potential DMF) in 50% of patients with SSc and a third of them had a normal conventional screening including standard CMR. In the future, further studies are needed to confirm the benefit of use of native T1 mapping as a part of routine follow up to detect earlier pejorative cardiac involvement in SSc patients.

Defining primary systemic sclerosis heart involvement: A scoping literature review

BACKGROUND

Clinically evident primary heart involvement due to systemic sclerosis (SHI) is considered a poor prognostic factor and is a leading cause of systemic sclerosis (SSc) related death. Yet, there remains no consensus definition of SHI and poor understanding of the natural history and risk factors for the development of SHI.

METHODS

We performed a scoping literature review of published articles with a primary focus of SHI to capture previously used definitions of SHI and items used to measure SHI. Any factors reported to be associated with an increased risk of SHI were recorded.

RESULTS

Of the 2436 records identified in a search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and PubMed databases, 295 were included in the final scoping review. Analysis of the literature revealed studies of variable quality, generally low patient numbers and highly heterogeneous definitions of SHI within studies. There is no clear consensus from the literature as to the scope of SHI and the prognostic significance of sub-clinical investigation abnormalities commonly detected.

CONCLUSION

The lack of a standardised definition of SHI remains a significant unmet need in SSc. The results of this review will assist in the development of consensus classification criteria to enable more accurate quantification of the burden of SHI, identification of factors associated with increased risk of developing SHI, and evaluation of the efficacy of any novel therapeutic strategies.

Hemodynamic changes after acute fluid loading in patients with systemic sclerosis without pulmonary hypertension

A fluid challenge with a rapid infusion of saline helps to discriminate between pre- and post-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) and allows unmasking hidden post-capillary PH. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients may present with biventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic changes of the pulmonary circulation in SSc patients without PH after a fluid challenge. Twenty-five SSc patients and 25 controls underwent right heart catheterization in basal conditions and after volume loading with saline infusion of 7 mL/kg over 5–10 min. At baseline, there was no difference in hemodynamics between SSc patients and controls. Rapid volume loading resulted in a significant increase in pressures and flows in both groups. Increases in right atrial pressure (3 ± 1 vs. 2 ± 1 mmHg, P = 0.03), mean pulmonary artery pressure (5 ± 1 vs. 3 ± 1 mmHg, P < 0.001), and pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP; 5 ± 2 vs. 3 ± 1 mmHg, P < 0.001) were larger in SSc patients than in controls. Conversely, cardiac index (0.4 ± 0.2 vs. 0.6 ± 0.3 L/min/m², P = 0.005) increased less in SSc patients than in controls. Pulmonary vascular resistance did not differ between groups before and after volume loading. Four SSc patients and only one of the controls reached a PAWP > 18 mmHg suggesting latent left heart failure. Even if differences are small and not diagnostic for heart failure, SSc patients without PH have a larger increase in pulmonary vascular pressures and a smaller increase in cardiac output than controls after an acute volume loading, probably due to subclinical left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

Right Ventricle Remodeling and Function in Scleroderma Patients

Scleroderma, known also as systemic sclerosis (SSc), is a severe disease associated with high mortality rates, and right ventricular (RV) remodeling and dysfunction, along with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH), are among the most important internal organ manifestations of this disease. PAH has a higher prevalence in patients with SSc compared to the general population and represents a significant predictor of mortality in SSc. In patients with SSc, the morphological remodeling and alteration of RV function begin even before the setting of PAH and lead to development of a specific adaptive pattern of the RV which is different from the one recorded in patients with IAPH. These alterations cause worse outcomes and increased mortality rates in SSc patients. Early detection of RV dysfunction and remodeling is possible using modern imaging tools currently available and can indicate the initiation of specific therapeutic measures before installation of PAH. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge related to mechanisms involved in the remodeling and functional alteration of the RV in SSc patients.

Cardiovascular Imaging Techniques in Systemic Rheumatic Diseases

The risk of cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality is significantly higher in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases than in the general population. Although CV involvement in such patients is highly heterogeneous and may affect various structures of the heart, it can now be diagnosed earlier and promptly treated. Various types of assessments are employed for the evaluation of CV risk such as transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) to investigate valve abnormalities, pericardial disease, and ventricular wall motion defects. The diameter of coronary arteries can be assessed using invasive quantitative coronarography or intravascular ultrasound, and coronary flow reserve can be assessed using non-invasive transesophageal or transthoracic ultrasonography (US), MRI, CT, or positron emission tomography (PET) after endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Finally, peripheral circulation can be measured invasively using strain-gauge plethysmography in an arm after the arterial infusion of an endothelium-dependent vasodilator or non-invasively by means of US or MRI measurements of flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery. All of the above are reliable methods of investigating CV involvement, but more recently, introduced use of speckle tracking echocardiography and 3-dimensional US are diagnostically more accurate.

Long-term clinical stabilization of scleroderma patients treated with a chronic and intensive IV iloprost regimen

Intravenous iloprost is a first-line option for the treatment of scleroderma-related digital vasculopathy, and some studies have suggested its favourable role on disease progression. The aim of our study is to evaluate the disease progression, specifically in terms of cardiopulmonary function, in a group of consecutive patients chronically treated with intravenous iloprost. Our retrospective study enrolled 68 scleroderma patients (68 F, 54.4 ± 12.3 years) treated with iloprost for 7.1 ± 2.9 years, with a schedule of 5–6 consecutive daily infusions per month (6 h/day, 0.5–2.0 ng/kg/min). In all patients, modified Rodnan skin score (4.7 ± 5.3 vs. 3.7 ± 5.3, p < 0.0001), systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) (30.9 ± 6.4 vs. 24.0 ± 3.2 mmHg, p < 0.0001), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (22.1 ± 2.4 vs. 23.8 ± 3.5 mm, p = 0.0001), pro-brain natriuretic peptide (97.2 ± 69.3 vs. 65.8 ± 31.7 pg/ml, p = 0.0005) showed statistically significant improvement from baseline. In the subgroup of patients with baseline sPAP ≥36 mmHg (n = 17), a significant sPAP reduction was observed (from 39.5 ± 3.8 to 25.1 ± 4.5 mmHg, p < 0.0001) after 7.6 ± 2.5 years of follow-up. The number of patients with digital ulcers (DUs) at follow-up was reduced from baseline (42.6 vs. 11.8%, p < 0.001), and none of the free-DU patients at baseline presented DUs at follow-up. An intensive and chronic regimen of IV iloprost administration seems to stabilize and potentially improve the long-term development of disease in SSc patients, as suggested by stabilization or significant improvement of cardiopulmonary parameters and vasculopathy.

Unique Abnormalities in Right Ventricular Longitudinal Strain in Systemic Sclerosis Patients

BACKGROUND

Cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma [SSc]) adversely affects long-term prognosis, often remaining undetectable despite close clinical examination and 2-dimensional echocardiographic monitoring. Speckle-derived strain of the right ventricle (RV) was utilized to detect occult abnormalities in regional and global contractility in SSc patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 138 SSc patients with technically adequate echocardiograms was studied and compared with 40 age- and sex-matched healthy non-SSc controls. Standard assessment of RV chamber function included tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and fractional area change. RV longitudinal systolic speckle-derived strain was assessed in the basal, mid, and apical free wall. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion was not different between groups (P=0.307). Although fractional area change was lower in SSc patients than in controls (mean, 48.9 versus 55; P=0.002), the mean fractional area change was still within the normal range (>35). In contrast, RV longitudinal systolic speckle-derived strain measures were significantly different between groups, both globally (-20.4% versus -17.7%; P=0.005) and regionally: they were decreased in the apex (-8.5% versus -17.1%; P<0.0001) and mid segments (-12.4% versus -20.9%; P<0.0001), and increased in the base (-32.2% versus -23.3%; P=0.0001) for the SSc group. The regional difference in the base compared with the apex was significantly greater for SSc than for controls (P<0.0001 for interaction). The differences observed in regional strain between SSc and control were unchanged after adjusting for RV systolic pressure.

CONCLUSIONS

Speckle-derived strain reveals a heterogenous pattern of regional heart strain in SSc that is not detected by conventional measures of function, suggestive of occult RV myocardial disease.

Systemic sclerosis: Recent insights

Systemic sclerosis is an orphan connective tissue disease characterized by alterations of the microvasculature, disturbances of the immune system and massive deposition of collagen and other matrix substances in the skin and internal organs. A major achievement of the recent years has been the validation of new classification criteria, allowing earlier diagnosis and earlier treatment of systemic sclerosis, before irreversible fibrosis and organ damage appeared ("window of opportunity"). Raynaud's phenomenon is usually the first sign of the disease and is considered as the main sentinel sign for the identification of very early systemic sclerosis. Systemic sclerosis is clinically heterogeneous and disease course remains unpredictable. Its prognosis depends on cardiopulmonary involvement and recent studies aim to identify serum or genetic biomarkers predictive of severe organ involvement. Moreover, the prospective follow-up of large cohorts has provided and will offer critical material to identify strong prognostic factors. Whereas the outcomes of vascular manifestations of the disease has been recently improved due to targeted therapy, recent data have highlighted that mortality has not changed over the past 40 years. This reflects the absence of efficacy of current available drugs to counteract the fibrotic process. Nevertheless, several targeted immunity therapies, commonly with proven efficacy in other immune diseases, are about to be investigated in systemic sclerosis. Indeed, promising results in small and open studies have been reported. This article deals with recent insights into classification criteria, pathogenesis, organ involvements, outcome and current and possible future therapeutic options in systemic sclerosis.