EVALUATION OF CARDIAC INVOLVEMENT THROUGH TRANSTHORACIC DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

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Aim:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease found to cause the cardiovascular disease risk. We aimed to evaluate cardiac involvement through transthoracic echocardiography (ECHO) in RA patients and its relationship with age and comorbidities. Material and Methods:By analyzing the records of follow-up RA patients in outpatient clinics of rheumatology, 200 patients who had ECHO (female/male: 155/45, age range: 57.12±12.08 years, average duration of disease: 108.57±115.99 months) were examined. Results:The frequency of RF and anti-CCP were 67.2% and 58.4%, respectively, and 40% of patients had other accompanying. According to the ECHO findings, 6% of patients had systolic dysfunction, 4.5% pericardial effusion, 68.1% diastolic dysfunction (DD), 14% valvular disease, and 20.5% pulmonary hypertension. In addition, 81% of patients had an increased left ventricular mass, 33.5% hypertrophy in the left atrium and 11% in the right ventricular area. There was no correlation between seropositivity and ECHO findings, except between anti-CCP and decreased deceleration time (p=0.0013, r=0.214). Left atrial hypertrophy, left ventricular hypertrophy and DD were identified more frequently in patients ages ≥55 years and in patients with accompanying diseases. Pulmonary hypertension was identified more frequently in patients ages ≥55 years. Conclusion:According to ECHO results, many cardiac involvements, especially DD, were observed in a significant number of RA patients. Factors such as age, autoantibody status, and concomitant diseases may influence the cardiovascular risk. Close monitoring and consideration of cardiovascular interventions can contribute to the prevention of RA-related cardiovascular complications.

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