Doppler Echocardiographic Findings Research Articles

Two-dimensional and Doppler Echocardiographic Findings in Healthy Non-sedated Captive European Pond Turtles (Emys orbicularis)

Abstract Two-dimensional (2D) and Doppler echocardiography is considered the most practical diagnostic tool for antemortem evaluation of reptilian heart disease but has only been described in a limited number of chelonian species. Cardiac morphology and function were evaluated by ultrasonography in 35 clinically healthy, captive non-sedated European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) using 2D-mode, M-mode, and pulsed wave spectral Doppler. Turtles were placed in a temperature-controlled water tank (24-26°C, 75.2-78.8°F) for cardiac examination through the right cervicobrachial window using water as coupling agent. Each echocardiogram included the evaluation of 19 variables, including 6 in 2D-mode, 7 in M-mode, and 6 in Doppler mode, and was performed in 5.64 minutes on average. Morphological and functional abnormalities were identified in eight turtles, including atrioventricular insufficiencies (n = 5), pericardial effusions (n = 4), increased velocity of the ventricular outflow tract (n = 1) and bradyarrhythmia (n = 2). Reference intervals could be established for the 19 parameters in the remaining individuals after excluding outliers (n = 25). Statistically significant positive correlations between weight and diastolic (0.61, P = 0.001) and systolic (0.46, P = 0.018) ventricular volumes, and diastolic ventricular diameter (0.35, P = 0.03) were identified. This study establishes an initial database for the evaluation of captive European pond turtle cardiovascular system by a simple and clinically applicable echocardiographic technique.

Computed tomographic assessment of bronchoesophageal artery hypertrophy and systemic‐to‐pulmonary shunt mimicking a persistent ductus arteriosus in a French Bulldog

AbstractA 5‐year‐old, female French bulldog was evaluated for left‐sided congestive heart failure. A diagnosis of bronchoesophageal artery hypertrophy with systemic‐to‐pulmonary shunt was made. Even though Doppler echocardiographic findings were in favour of a left‐to‐right shunting patent ductus arteriosus, the exploratory thoracotomy highlighted a more complex vascular anomaly. An angiographic computed tomography study allowed to establish the final diagnosis. Bronchial‐to‐pulmonary artery shunts can mimic the presence of a patent ductus arteriosus, therefore computed tomography is considered a valuable additional tool for diagnosis and surgical planning.

Echocardiographic Evaluation of His Bundle Pacing in Patients with Prolonged PR Intervals.

Patients with PR intervals >240ms have atrio-ventricular (AV) dyssynchrony, which can increase risk of atrial fibrillation and all-cause mortality. When requiring pacing, long AV delays (AVDs) have been programmed to avoid ventricular dyssychrony. His bundle pacing (HBP) may provide improved AV synchrony in patients with prolonged PR. 10 patients with sinus node dysfunction and prolonged PR who received HBP were studied. Real-time echocardiographic was performed with 3 pacemaker modes (RV septal, non-selective HBP, and selective HBP) using the following pacemaker settings: control (no ventricular pacing), pacing with AVD of 180ms, 150ms, 120ms, 100ms, and 70ms. Echocardiographic Doppler measurements: EA/RR, >40% = AV synchrony; E/e', <8 = normal left atrial pressure; pulmonic-to-aortic pre-ejection time difference, <40ms = interventricular synchrony; septal-to-lateral wall activation time difference, <56ms = intraventricular synchrony; and LVOT VTI. Unpaired T test was used to evaluate for significance. Exclusion criteria: persistent atrial fibrillation, second-degree AV block. Compared to control programming, HBP showed a 31.5% increase in EA/RR time, a decrease in E/e' of 26.9%, and an increase in the LVOT VTI of 21.3%. Compared to RV septal pacing, there was a similar increase in LVOT VTI. These findings met statistical significance and were considered optimal based on Doppler echocardiography findings primarily at AVDs of 150ms and 120ms. Comparisons between selective and non-selective pacing were not significantly different. Compared to controls and RV septal pacing, physiologic His bundle pacing was shown to increase markers of AV synchrony and LV stroke volume while maintaining ventricular synchrony.

Adult Tetrology of Fallot: A Doppler Echocardiographic Finding

In TOF the morphological abnormalities are – overriding of aorta, pulmonary obstruction, right ventricular hypertrophy and ventricular septal defect. Normally it is nonrestrictive means free communications between the ventricles but sometimes very rarely it can become restrictive when the tricuspid valve restrict the flow across the ventricular septal defect. Among children with CHD 10% of them report TOF. Chest radiographs usually show a normal-size heart silhouette, with an upturned apex and a concave main pulmonary artery segment, commonly known as “boot-shaped” heart. On the electrocardiogram, it is common to see signs of right atrial enlargement and right ventricular hypertrophy showing right axis deviation, prominent R waves anteriorly and S waves posteriorly, upright T wave in V1 (abnormal after 7 days of life up to 10 years of age) and a qR pattern in the right precordial leads. If the ration between pulmonary artery orifice diameter to aortic orifice diameter is <.3 primary repair is unsuccessful and in that case we must go for shunt surgeries which are palliative procedures till permanent repair can be done. This should add proper assessment of coronary artery origin. This is a case of adult tetralogy of fallot (TOF) coming to outpatient department of cardiology with complaints of chest discomfort and sometimes cyanotic spells. Age of the patient is 42 years male. Doppler Echocardiography was done. In the image overriding of aorta was found around 20% over interventricular septum. Left sided aortic arch was detected along with ventricular septal defect (VSD) with size 14 mm. Size of pulmonary orifice 10 mm and that of aortic orifice was 22 mm. Hence pulmonary artery orifice was found to get stenosed.

Prevalence of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy and its relationshipwith serum pro-brain natriuretic peptide, hepatorenal syndrome, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and mortality.

This study aims at estimating the prevalence of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy in a cohort of cirrhosis patients in northern India using the World Congress of Gastroenterology 2005 criteria and its relationshipwith grades of cirrhosis, itscomplications, and all-cause mortality. This was a prospective study in which 53 cirrhosis patients underwent the 2D color Doppler, and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Echocardiography findings were compared with thirty age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Additionally, serum pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP) and troponin-T levels were measured. Patients were followed up for 6months to look for complications and mortality. 2D echocardiography findings revealed that diastolic cardiomyopathy with no gross systolic dysfunction was significantly prevalent in cirrhosis patients. Using the Montreal criteria, we found the incidence of diastolic cardiomyopathy to be 56.6%. Tissue Doppler echocardiography findings were also correlated. Diastolic dysfunction correlated with the severity of cirrhosis, and patients with higher Child score had more diastolic dysfunction. Serum pro-BNP levels and QTc interval were also higher in patients with diastolic dysfunction. On survival analysis, patients with cirrhotic cardiomyopathy had shortersurvival and greater frequency ofencephalopathy and hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) episodes as compared with cirrhotic patients without cardiomyopathy, though the differences were not statistically significant. The study showed that diastolic dysfunction washighly prevalent (56.6% of the study population) in cirrhosis patients. QTc interval and pro-BNP were also significantly raised. Also, complications of cirrhosis like HRS, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and hepatic encephalopathy were more common in the cirrhoticcardiomyopathy group.

Physical examination in aortic stenosis. Correlation with echocardiographic and peripheral Doppler echocardiography findings

Introduction and objectivesPhysical examination is useful for detecting cardiac murmurs in patients with suspected aortic stenosis (AS). Our aim was to evaluate the correlation between physical findings, peripheral artery Doppler, and the echocardiographic parameters of severity in patients with AS. MethodsBetween August 2017 and January 2018, patients diagnosed with AS (peak velocity >2.5m/s) were prospectively included, and classified into severe (effective orifice area [EOA] <1cm2) and non-severe AS (EOA ≥1cm2). A cardiologist, blinded to the echocardiographic findings, performed a complete physical examination, and then another cardiologist, blinded to previous data, examined the patients to evaluate interobserver variability. A brachial artery Doppler was also performed. ResultsEighty-six patients were included (mean age 76±9 years, 48% women), of which 49 (57%) had non-severe, and 37 (43%) severe AS. Murmur intensity (r=−0.32; P=.003) and duration (r=−0.54; P<.001) correlated with EOA. Absence of second heart sound was the parameter with higher AUC=0.85; P<.001), late-systole murmur duration (AUC=0.79, P<.001) and pulsus tardus ≥2 (AUC=0.77, P<.001) for severe AS. A cut-off value of 84ms in acceleration time in brachial artery had a sensitivity of 46%, specificity of 87% for severe AS. ConclusionsPhysical examination findings have an acceptable diagnostic accuracy for assessing AS severity. Prolongation of acceleration time in brachial artery could help assessing AS severity.

Pulmonary Hypertension in Children with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in the Konya Province of Turkey

Abstract Objective Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) are one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in childhood. Hypoxemia, pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to pulmonary vasoconstriction, and heart failure due to various causes are the most important risk factors for mortality in LRTI. The aim of this study was to investigate characteristics of the patients with LRTI and the frequency of PH that developed secondary to LRTI. Materials and Methods The study included 70 patients who were diagnosed as having LRTI clinically and radiologically between January 2012 and March 2013 at Department of Pediatrics, Konya Training and Research Hospital. Age, sex, risk factors for LRTI, symptoms and physical examination findings, laboratory tests, and Doppler echocardiography findings of the patients were retrospectively reviewed. Results Of the patients, 44 (62.9%) were male and 26 (37.1%) were female. Thirty-seven (52.9%) patients were younger than 1 year, and the mean age was 2.5 ± 3.11 years. The most common symptoms of the patients were cough and fever. Rhonchus, retraction, and crackles were found to be the most common findings in physical examinations. Heart failure was found in 10% of patients and PH was detected in 8.6% through Doppler echocardiography. Development of heart failure and the presence of bilateral patch infiltration on posteroanterior chest X-rays were significantly more frequent in patients with PH. Some 42.9% of patients had at least one viral agent in their nasopharyngeal swabs. The most common viral agents were respiratory syncytial virus and rhinoviruses. Conclusion PH may develop during the course of LRTI in children. Given that the development of PH can cause life-threatening complications such as heart failure, affected patients should be kept under close follow-up. It should be remembered that PH is more likely to develop in patients with bilateral patch infiltration on chest X-ray.

Cardiac Involvement in Mild Cystic Fibrosis Lung Involvement Assessed by Tissue‐Doppler Echocardiography

Background:Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a systemic disease affecting extra pulmonary dysfunction as a result of CF-related lung disease. Because of lack of enough studies in this field and utilization of TDE in this field, we aimed to evaluate the cardiac involvement in children with CF and compare it with healthy children. Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study, children diagnosed with cystic fibrosis aged less than 15 years who referred to Emam Hossein Children’s Hospital, affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, during 2018, were enrolled. Participants were 2 groups: case and control. In this study 27 children with mild cystic fibrosis lung disease and 27 healthy children were evaluated. Case groups were consisted of children with CF, and control group were healthy children. FEV1, FVC, and FEV1 / FVC of all participants were recorded based on their spirometry findings. Cardiac function tests including electrocardiogram and Doppler echocardiography were evaluated by an expert pediatric cardiologist. Spirometry and Doppler echocardiography findings in two studied groups were compared. Results: Lateral wall tissue Doppler echocardiographic evaluation, annular peak velocity during systole and E’/A’ ratio was significantly higher in children with CF than healthy children (P<0.05). In the right ventricle (septal wall) tissue Doppler echocardiographic evaluation peak velocity during early diastole, peak velocity during late diastole and annular peak velocity during systole was significantly higher in healthy children than those with CF (P<0.01). E’/A’ ratio in the right ventricle (septal wall) tissue Doppler echocardiographic evaluation was significantly higher in children with CF than healthy children (P<0.01). Conclusion Based on the results, it is recommended to consider tissue Doppler echocardiography in the earlier period of CF patients’ follow- up program.

Correlation exists between serum TSH and doppler echocardiography findings regarding diastolic dysfunction of left ventricle

Correlation exists between serum TSH and doppler echocardiography findings regarding diastolic dysfunction of left ventricle

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Doppler Tissue Echocardiography and Electrocardiography in Children with Celiac Disease Compared to Controls

Background Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune mediated gluten sensitive enteropathy and characterized by a wide range of clinical manifestations. The study aimed to compare Doppler tissue echocardiography findings between children with celiac disease and healthy children. Materials and Methods This case-control study was performed on 186 celiac and healthy children aged 6- 19 years. Celiac diagnosed by clinical findings and laboratory's tests (tTGIgA) confirmed by intestinal biopsy. Controls consisted of voluntary individuals free of any diseases. Echocardiography performed on participants. Data analyzed utilizing SPSS software version 20.0. Results Left Peak A, left S', right ICT', right IRT', right S', EF, FS, left ET', left IRT', right E'/A' left S' were higher in case when Right ET was lower. Patients with left S' < 8 were lower in left A', higher in right ICT', lower level in right S', higher in left E/E'. Patients with Left E/E' ≥9, were higher in Left Peak E velocity, lower in IVSD, higher in right E/E’, lower in left S' and lower in left E’ (P

Diagnostic Value of NT-pro BNP Biomarker and Echocardiography in Cardiac Involvements in Beta-thalassemia Patients

Background N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a marker to evaluate the cardiac involvement in thalassemia. We aimed to evaluate conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography findings and its relation to plasma NT-pro BNP, Ferritin and Iron levels in beta-thalassemia patients. Materials and Methods This study performed on 164 participants equal of major beta- thalassemia patients (n=82), and controls (82 healthy children with normal cardiovascular status). The patients collected from outpatients after applied exclusion criteria. Blood samples were taken from participants in fasting to measure NT- pro BNP, Ferritin and Iron serum. Participants were under echocardiography by Pediatric cardiologist. The level of error considered as 0.05 for data analysis by SPSS version 20.0. Results NT- pro BNP, Iron, Ferritin, left S', left A', right A', EF, FS, left and right A/A'; right and left MPI were significantly different in patients group (P 10 years, and FS had different values significantly in lower levels. In lower level of left E/E' resulted that FS was significantly higher in the age group < 10 years. Right peak E velocity was significantly higher in younger’s in higher level of left E/E'. Right E/E' was significantly higher in elders in lower level of left E/E' (P<0.05). Conclusion The study confirmed that NT-pro BNP increases in thalassemia and association with age and LV diastolic dysfunction. NT-pro BNP with E/E' and S' were shown diastolic and systolic dysfunction in thalassemia. Therefore, an increased level of ferritin and NT-pro BNP can be used as a marker for the intensification of iron chelation therapy, which reverses iron-induced cardiomyopathy.

Prevalence of Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Early Stages of Chronic Renal Disease

Aim : Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) was recently described as a cardiovascular complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). There are many studies on the prevalence of PHT in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD); however, there are no data on the presence or prevalence of PHT in patients with early-stage kidney disease. Materials and Methods : The demographic and laboratory findings for 172 adult patients with stage 1-5 CKD, as well as Doppler echocardiographic findings were evaluated. Systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) was compared according to CKD stage, and also between the patients in stages 1-4 and those in stage 5 with and without AVF. Results : Mean age of the patients was 55.4 ± 15.2 years. Mean sPAP in the entire study group was 34.5 ± 5.7 mmHg and PHT was noted in 90 (52.3 %) patients. Mean sPAP and the prevalence of PHT were similar in the stage 1-4 patients and stage 5 patients, regardless of HD (P=0.86). The serum calcium level was significantly lower and the serum intact parathyroid hormone level was significantly higher in patients with PHT than in those without PHT (P = 0.02, and P = 0.03). Conclusion: The present findings show that the prevalence of PHT in patients with early stage CKD was similar to those with stage 5 CKD. Due to the high morbidity and mortality rates associated with PHT, follow-up of sPAP via Doppler echocardiography might be indicated in all patients with CKD.

Prediction of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease from Three-Dimensional Vectorcardiographic Parameters.

The objective of our study was to assess diagnostic value of three-dimensional (3D) vectorcardiographic (VCG) parameters in detecting pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) with and without right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH). The study group of 62 patients with COPD was stratified on the basis of color Doppler echocardiographic findings into three subgroups: non-PAH (n = 23), PAH without RVH (n = 22), and PAH with RVH (n = 17). Pairwise differences between the subgroups were evaluated by one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the significance of the correlations between pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) and various VCG parameters. The azimuth of the QRS vector decreased from -24° in the non-PAH group to -62° in PAH without RVH and to -140° in PAH with RVH (P < 0.01 for pairwise differences between all three groups). Similar significant decrease was observed for the azimuth of the ventricular gradient (VG) vector. Spatial QRS/T angle increased from 69° in the non-PAH group to 115° in PAH without RVH (P < 0.01). In the PAH group with RVH, QRS/T angle was 94° (P < 0.05 for difference from the non-PAH group). There was a significant correlation between PASP and QRS/T angle (r = 0.89, P < 0.05) and between PASP and the azimuth of the VG vector (r = 0.86, P < 0.05). PASP increase from linear regression model was 0.8 mmHg for a QRS/T angle increase by 10° and 1.3 mmHg for each 10° increase in the azimuth of the VG vector. 3DVCG parameters are potentially useful for predicting PASP in COLD patients, and possibly also for differentiation between COLD patients with PAH and RVH from those without RVH.

Is early diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension possible in inflammatory rheumatic diseases? Experience from a single center in Turkey.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating complication of inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the role of screening for the early diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Data of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and PH who had no obvious cause of PH and who were evaluated by Working Group for Pulmonary Hypertension in Hacettepe University were investigated retrospectively. All patients with inflammatory disease were evaluated by right heart catheterization (RHC) to check if they had systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) ≥40 mmHg and/or symptoms related to PH unless explained by other causes. RHC was performed in 47 patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and PH out of 50 patients who were to be evaluated by RHC based on clinical and Doppler echocardiographic findings. There was a positive correlation between sPAP estimated by Doppler echocardiography and sPAP determined by RHC in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (r=0.66; p<0.001). The mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) was found to be <25 mmHg in 27.7% of the patients. New York Heart Association functional capacity (NYHA FC) was class III or IV in 79.0% of the patients with PAH. PAH was more frequent in patients with NYHA FC III-IV compared with patients with NYHA FC I-II [58.7% (15) patients vs. 19.0% (4) patients; p=0.009]. In this study, approximately 80% of the patients with inflammatory disease-associated PAH were diagnosed late in NYHA FC III or IV. There are still unresolved issues in the diagnosis and treatment of PH in inflammatory diseases. Collaboration and multidisciplinary approach are the key points to overcome the challenges in this field.

Comparison of Doppler Echocardiographic Findings in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease with and without Intrapulmonary Shunt

Comparison of Doppler Echocardiographic Findings in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease with and without Intrapulmonary Shunt

M-mode, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic findings in 40 healthy domestic pet rabbits

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to report normal two-dimensional, M-mode, and Doppler echocardiographic findings from a large cohort of healthy, manually restrained, adult pet rabbits. Animals and methodsForty healthy pet rabbits [22 Dwarf Lops (DL), 14 French Lops (FL) and 4 Alaskan (AL)] underwent a full physical examination and conscious two-dimensional, M-mode, and Doppler echocardiography. ResultsThe median age of the rabbits was 21.5 months, the median weight was 2.9 kg (DL: 2.4 kg, AL: 4.35 kg, FL: 6.0 kg). Echocardiography with ECG monitoring was feasible in all rabbits. Left atrial and ventricular dimensions were significantly larger in FL as compared to DL; overall, a positive correlation with weight was present. No significant differences between breeds were identified for flow velocities. Trace regurgitation was detected at the aortic valve in 7/40 (17.5%) rabbits, at the tricuspid valve in 5/40 (12.5%) and at the pulmonic valve in 1/40 (2.5%) rabbits. Mitral inflow E and A waves were summated in 60% of cases. ConclusionsThe results of this study can be used as echocardiographic values in FL and DL for comparison with clinical cases, and may also be applicable for other breeds of similar sizes. Breed specific values should be used when measuring left atrial and ventricular sizes. However, no breed or size differences were found for the rest of the echocardiographic parameters, which may therefore be applicable for the general pet rabbit population.

Paradoxical low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis despite preserved left ventricular ejection fraction: new insights from weights of operatively excised aortic valves.

We reported that patients with small aortic valve area (AVA) and low flow despite preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), i.e. 'paradoxical' low flow (PLF), have worse outcomes compared with patients with normal flow (NF), although they generally have a lower mean gradient (MG). The aortic valve weight (AVW) excised at the time of valve replacement is a flow-independent marker of stenosis severity. The objective of this study was to compare the AVW of patients with PLF and MG<40 mmHg with the AVW of patients with NF and MG≥40 mmHg. We recruited 250 consecutive patients undergoing valve replacement (Cohort A) for severe stenosis. Among them, 33 (13%) were in PLF [LVEF > 50% but stroke volume index (SVi) ≤ 35 mL/m(2)] with MG < 40 mmHg (PLF-LG group) and 105 (42%) were in NF (LVEF > 50% and SVi > 35 mL/m(2)) with MG ≥ 40 mmHg (NF-HG group). Despite a much lower MG (29 ± 7 vs. 53 ± 10 mmHg; P < 0.0001), patients in the PLF-LG group had a similar AVA (0.73 ± 0.12 vs. 0.69 ± 0.13; P = 0.19) compared with those in the NF-HG group. The AVW [median (interquartile): 1.90 (1.63-2.50) vs. 2.60 (1.66-3.32)] and prevalence of bicuspid phenotype (15 vs. 42%) were lower in the PLF-LG group than in the NF-HG group. However, AVWs analysed separately in the tricuspid and bicuspid valves were similar in both groups [tricuspid valves: 1.80 (1.63-2.50) vs. 2.30 (1.58-3.00) g; P = 0.26 and bicuspid valves: 2.72 (1.73-3.61) vs. 2.60 (2.10-3.55) g; P = 0.93]. When using cut-point values of AVW established in another series of non-consecutive patients (n = 150, Cohort B) with NF and concordant Doppler-echocardiographic findings, we found that the percentage of patients with evidence of severe stenosis in Cohort A was 70% in patients with PLF-LG and 86% in patients with NF-HG. The aortic valve weight data reported in this study provide evidence that a large proportion of patients with PLF and low-gradient have a severe stenosis and that the gradient may substantially underestimate stenosis severity in these patients. A multi-parametric approach including all Doppler-echocardiographic parameters of valve function as well as other complementary diagnostic tests may help correctly identify these patients.

Neonatal balloon aortic valvotomy for critical aortic stenosis with congestive heart failure and severe left ventricular dysfunction

We present the case report of a 23 day newborn baby who presented with congestive heart failure. On two-dimensional echocardiography, it was diagnosed to have severe (critical) aortic valve stenosis with severe left ventricle (LV) dysfunction with dilated left atrium and left ventricle. Emergency percutaneous balloon aortic valvotomy was performed. Post-procedure the child showed immediate relief of aortic stenosis. Improvement in the left ventricular ejection fraction was also noted. Immediate and short term follow-up shows improvement in the clinical and Doppler echocardiography findings.

Assessment of the relationship between aortic stiffness and left ventricular functions with echocardiography in patients with Sjögren's syndrome

Capable of multi-organ involvement in Sjogren's syndrome (SS), cardiac findings of pulmonary effusion, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension are seen in patients with SS. Aortic stiffness (AS) reflects the mechanical tension and elasticity of the aorta. In this study, our aim is to determine if there is any differences in AS and left ventricular function between patients diagnosed as SS and healthy control groups. We enrolled 50 patients with SS and 47 healthy volunteers with similar demographic characteristics. It was found that isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) and deceleration time (DT) were significantly longer and early diastolic wave (E) was significantly lower in patients with SS, but there was no difference in the other parameters. When tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) findings were compared between the two groups, it was found that myocardial systolic wave (Sm), myocardial early diastolic wave (Em) and Em/Am ratio were significantly lower, and myocardial isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRTm) and myocardial performance index (MPI) values were significantly higher in patients with SS. A significant positive correlations between aortic strain and Sm (r=0.35, P<0.001), Em (r=0.42, P<0.001) and Em/Am (r=0.26, P=0.008) and negative correlations in IVRTm (r=-0.36, P<0.001) and MPI (r=-0.24, P=0.01) were detected. A significant positive correlation between aortic distensibility and Sm (r=0.36, P<0.001), Em (r=0.44, P<0.001), Em/Am (r=0.26, P=0.009) and negative correlation of IVRTm (r=-0.22, P=0.02) were determined. There is a significant relationship between AS and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with SS in this study. The parameters of aortic elasticity measured by 2D echocardiographic methods can be beneficial in predicting early cardiovascular risk in SS.