title: Arterial stiffness is associated with left ventricular dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Arterial stiffness (AS) has a detrimental effect on cardiovascular system particularly on left ventricle (LV). The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of AS on LV functions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Forty patients with RA and 25 age-sex matched control subjects (mean age 48.5 ± 6.3 vs. 45.1 ± 6.9 years, respectively, p = 0.06) were enrolled in study. AS was assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) and heart rate corrected augmentation index (AIx@75) measured by applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor). LV function was evaluated using tissue Doppler-derived myocardial performance index (MPI) from lateral mitral annulus. CF-PWV (28.3 ± 10.3 vs. 21.8 ± 9.3 m/s, p = 0.03), AIx@75 (10.2 ± 2.3 vs. 9.2 ± 1, %, p = 0.01) and MPI (0.46 ± 0.12 vs. 0.36 ± 0.1, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with RA than in controls. LV MPI was found to be significantly positive correlated with CF-PWV, AIx@75, and ESR (r = 0.360, p = 0.005; r = 0.334, p = 0.009; r = 0.293, p = 0.023, respectively). Arterial stiffness parameters including CF-PWV and AIx@75 are associated with subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in patients with RA.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Cardiology, Sanliurfa Mehmet Akif Inan Training and Research Hospital, Sanliurfa, Turkey. abdulselamilter@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Abdulselam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ilter
authors.affiliation: Departments of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Farabi Hospital, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiris
authors.affiliation: Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Division of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Farabi Hospital, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karkucak
authors.affiliation: Departments of Cardiology, Ahi Evren Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mursel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.affiliation: Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Division of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Farabi Hospital, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer Faruk
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Serdar
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Sanliurfa Mehmet Akif Inan Training and Research Hospital, Sanliurfa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yunus
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ugan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Arterial stiffness; Augmentation index; Heart failure; Myocardial performance index; Pulse wave velocity; Rheumatoid arthritis