Evaluation of subclinical myocardial dysfunction using speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract

Objective: Ankylosing spondylitis is a part of diseases called “seronegative spondyloarthropathy”. Affects the vertebral column, sacroiliac joint and peripheral joints. This chronic rheumatic disorder involved extra -articular parts like Heart, lungs, central nervous system and eyes. Ankylosing spondylitis lead to multiple cardiac complication such as systolic and diastolic dysfunction of left ventricle, valvular involvement , inflammation of aorta and pericardium with enlargement of the heart. Aim of the study: To evaluate of systolic and diastolic left ventricle dysfunction by echocardiography with speckle tracking in ankylosing spondylitis patients. Method: Fifty adult patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis fulfilling the inclusion criteria coming to outpatients of Merjan Medical City were recruited, diagnosed according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology criteria; 2D Echocardiography, Tissue Doppler Imaging and Speckle Tracking Echocardiography was done. Statistical analysis of correlation was done with Chi‑square test and t-test, the statistical significance was taken P < 0.05. Results :There was a significant lowering in the mean of global longitudinal strain in ankylosing spondylitis patients than in control ( p = 0.047*).