Doppler-Echo Evaluation of Left Ventricular Diastolic Filling in Patients with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Left ventricular diastolic function was assessed in 17 patients (2 males and 15 females; mean age 44 ± 9 years) with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and 18 sex-and age-matched healthy control subjects (2 males and 16 females; mean age 44 ± 8 years) by means of M-mode and pulsed Doppler echocardiography. None had clinical evidence of overt myocardial disease or abnormal left ventricular systolic function. Compared with the control group, patients with MCTD had a significantly longer isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) (59 ± 7 versus 70 ± 12 ms; p < 0.01), a lower peak early diastolic flow velocity (E) (0.79 ± 0.10 versus 0.70 ± 0.07 m/s; p < 0.005), a higher peak late diastolic flow velocity due to atrial contraction (A) (0.47 ± 0.08 versus 0.54 ± 0.08 m/s; p < 0.05) and a reduced E/A ratio (1.72 ± 0.37 versus 1.33 ± 0.26; p < 0.005). Although there was no significant correlation of left ventricular diastolic filling indexes with age, heart rate, left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions, interventricular septal and left ventricular posterior wall thickness, and fractional shortening, the duration of illness was significantly related to IVRT (r = 0.62; p < 0.01), peak A (r = 0.79; p < 0.001) and velocity half-time (r = 0.54; p < 0.05). The results suggest the presence of an abnormal left ventricular diastolic filling pattern in patients with MCTD and may represent myocardial involvement in this disease.