Left ventricular diastolic function in systemic sclerosis

Objective. To assess left ventricular diastolic function in patients with s ystemic sclerosis (SSc) and to verify if a "primary" diastolic dysfunction might exist. Methods. In total 124 patients and 41 healthy subjects underwent complete e chocardiographic examination. The following pulsed wave Doppler variables w ere evaluated: peak velocity during early filling (E), peak velocity during late atrial ailing (A), E/A ratio, and early filling deceleration time. Results. Seventy-seven patients (62.1%) had conditions potentially affectin g left ventricular diastolic function (Group A) and 47 patietlts (37.9%) fo rmed a homogeneous group without cardiac involvement or other causes of abn ormal diastolic function (i.e,, systemic and/or pulmonary hypertension, ven tricular hypertrophy, pericardial disease, systolic dysfunction, valvular h eart disease, coronary artery disease) (Group B). The entire SSc population and Group A showed significant differences in the Doppler variables of dia stolic function compared to the control group. No significant differences w ere found between Group B and controls. Conclusion, In patients with SSc, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction wa s found only in patients with conditions potentially affecting left ventric ular diastolic function. In patients without conditions potentially affecti ng left ventricular diastolic function no differences were seen in comparis on with controls. SSc does not seem to cause "primary" diastolic abnormalit ies.