Evaluation of Diastolic function abnormalities in Rheumatoid Arthritis by Echocardiography

Cardiovascular disorder is the most common cause of premature morality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA)with a relative risk of about twice compared with same age range of patients without Cardiovascular disease. People with rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic inflammatory conditions are at higher risk of heart disease. The purpose of this study was to determine and monitor heart diseases Forty patients attending therheumatology outpatient departments and clinic of Ghaem Hospital with an established diagnosis of RA for over five years, asdefined by the American Rheumatism Association criteria,were enrolled for this study.90% were female. Mean age were 46/2+_15/48.The patients that have previous heart diseases were excluded from the study. If everything was normal,Doppler M.Mode 2D-doppler echocardiography using VIVID3 device was performed. Forty patients underwent all the investigations. The most common valvular disease were Tricuspide and Mitral valve regurgitation(72/5%,52% respectively).In 70%of patient diastolic function was normal and there was significant relationship between systolic function(EF)and diastolic abnormality. Pulmonary hypertension was detected in 40% patients.Significant relationship was seen between D,Em and S,Sm(p=0/001,0/043 respectively).but there were not a significant relationship between E,Em and A,Am(p=0/432,0/844 respectively).Patients with RA were to have echocardiographic parameters of diastolic It is possible that the longer period of disease of our patients caused a more evident diastolic dysfunction. Increased prevalence of diastolic dysfunction in old age, duration of rheumatoid arthritis was observed.