title: Combined use of propagation velocity and intraventricular dispersion of E wave velocity for the evaluation of diastolic functions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate diastolic functions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by propagation velocity and intraventricular dispersion of E wave velocity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four patients fulfilling American Rheumatism Association (ARA) criteria for the diagnosis of RA without evidence of cardiac disease and left ventricular systolic dysfunction were enrolled in this study. Echocardiographic examinations were performed for the evaluation of diastolic dysfunction in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Propagation velocity in RA patients was significantly lower than the control group (42+/-16 cm/s, 54+/-15 cm/s, p=0.002). There was significant intraventricular dispersion of E wave velocity towards the cardiac apex in RA patients (p<0.001) when compared with the controls (p=0.79). There was a significant correlation between intraventricular dispersion of E wave velocity and diastolic dysfunction in the patients in which the duration of illness was longer than 10 years (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Structural myocardial abnormalities may cause impaired left ventricular relaxation in RA patients and these changes are correlated with the duration of the disease. Our findings demonstrate that combined use of propagation velocity and intraventricular dispersion of E wave velocity can help the early determination of diastolic functions in the patients with RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ondokuz Mayis University Medical Faculty, Kurupelit/Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ferhan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Canturk
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yazici
authors.forename: Gamze
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alayli
authors.forename: Elif Berber
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Menekse
authors.forename: Sabri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demircan
authors.forename: Firdovsi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ibrahimli
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Menekse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003971:Diastole; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left