Right ventricular function in a hispanic rheumatoid arthritis cohort

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory and systemic disease characterized by synovial joint affection. Cardiac manifestations of the disease are frequent and include coronary atherosclerosis, pericarditis, and congestive heart failure (CHF). The risk of CHF is increased in patients with RA. Patients with RA have a higher incidence of pulmonary hypertension and right-heart failure. Information regarding right ventricular function in Hispanic RA patients is scarce. Objectives: To evaluate right ventricular function in Hispanic RA patients. Do a descriptive analysis of Tei index, S wave velocity, right ventricular Myocardial Longitudinal Strain and isovolumetric relaxation and contraction time. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study was designed. Patients with RA who fulfilled the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria were invited to participate. Patients with prior atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, overlap syndrome, younger than 40 years old or older than 75 years old were excluded from the trial. Patients with any clinical manifestation of intersticial neumopathy were exluded as well. A standard echocardiography was performed (Vivid E9, GE). Patients with any missing data were eliminated from the analysis. All views and images were obtained according to the ASE recommendations. Kolmogorov-Smirnov's tests were performed to determine distributions. Descriptive analysis of normally distributed or non-parametrical variables was done using mean ± sd or median (IQR), according to each case. Results: A total of 35 patients were included, 33 were women (94.3%). Mean age was 58 ± 8.23 years. Right ventricular strain was - 27.75 ± 3.64%. TEI index was 0.32 ± 0.09. Isovolumetric relaxation time of the right ventricle was 51.77 ± 29.81 ms. Ejective period was 306.71 ± 28.68 ms. Isovolumetric contraction time of the right ventricle was 51.05 ± 9.08 ms. S wave velocity was 13.57 ± 8.21 cm/s. (Table presented) Conclusion: The right ventricular myocardial longitudinal strain in RA is -27.75 ± 3.64 %. These parameters can help to detect right heart failure in patients with RA.