In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), cardiac involvement has been recognized as one of the extra-articular manifestations. However, disagreement concerning the cardiac abnormalities has been reported in patients with RA.
By using M-mode echocardiography, multiple indices of left ventricular performance were calculated and compared to laboratory data. Echocardiograms were recorded 26 times in 16 patients with classical or definite RA by the ARA, but with no evidence of hyper-tension or bleeding.
Echocardiograms were recorded by using Toshiba SSL-21A (2.0MHz, 10mm diameter transducer) with simultaneous ECG tracing and permanent records were made on polaroid films.
The mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (mVcf) inversely correlated with Hb concentrations (r=-0.7196, p<0.001), RBC counts (r=-0.6950, p<0.001) and Ht values (r=-0.7178, p<0.001), also correlated with ESR (r=0.4343, 0.02<p<0.05), CRP (r=0.4462, 0.02<p<0.05) and serum IgG concentrations (r=0.4727, 0.02<p<0.05), respectively. The ejection fraction(EF)inversely correlated with Hb concentrations(r=-0.5897 0.001<p<0.005), RBC counts(r=-0.4361, 0.02<p<0.05) and Ht values(r=-0.5538, 0.001<p<0.005), and correlated with serum IgM concentrations (r=0.4830, 0.02<p<0.05).
The percent fractional displacement (%FD) inversely correlated with Hb concentrations (r=-0.5423, 0.001<p<0.005), RBC counts (r=-0.4478, 0.02<p<0.05) and Ht values (r=-0.5201, 0.005<p<0.01), and correlated with serum IgG concentrations (r=0.4763, 0.02<p<0.05). Whereas, any indices of left ventricular performance did not correlate signif-
icantly with complement and RAHA.
Indices of left ventricular performance significantly correlated with anemia, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP and immunoglobulines. These results suggested that the activity of the disease might have an effect on left ventricular performances in patients with RA.
