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Ventricular function abnormalities in active rheumatoid arthritis: a Doppler echocardiographic study

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of the present study was to evaluate cardiac involvement in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

Forty patients with active RA participated. All were submitted to standard Doppler echocardiography and myocardial performance index (MPI) grading.

Results

There were left and right ventricular diastolic function abnormalities in RA patients. Left ventricular MPI was also significantly higher than in controls (P<0.05). A relationship was found between left ventricular early diastolic (E)/atrial (A) flow velocities (E/A ratio), isovolumic relaxation time (IRT), and disease duration (r=−0.47 and P=0.002, r=0.618 and P=0.000, respectively).

Conclusion

Diastolic function was impaired in both ventricles in patients with active RA. There was a direct relationship between some of the parameters of left ventricular diastolic function and disease duration as well. These findings suggest a subclinical myocardial involvement in RA patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Meram Medical School of Selcuk University, Meram-Konya, Turkey

    Funda Levendoglu & Hatice Ugurlu

  2. Department of Cardiology, Meram Medical School of Selcuk University, Meram-Konya, Turkey

    Ahmet Temizhan, Ayse Ozdemir & Mehmet Yazici

  3. Selçuk Universitesi Tıp Fakültesi Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon, Anabilim Dalı, 42080, Meram-Konya, Turkey

    Funda Levendoglu

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  1. Funda Levendoglu
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  2. Ahmet Temizhan
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  3. Hatice Ugurlu
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  4. Ayse Ozdemir
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Correspondence to Funda Levendoglu.

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Levendoglu, F., Temizhan, A., Ugurlu, H. et al. Ventricular function abnormalities in active rheumatoid arthritis: a Doppler echocardiographic study. Rheumatol Int 24, 141–146 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-003-0342-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-003-0342-z

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