| Abstrakt: |
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the systolic and diastolic left ventricular (LV) function in patients with the system form of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules (SRN). The subjects, 105 patients with proved RA, were divided into two groups. The main group consisted of 40 patients suffering from system RA with SRN. The comparison groups included 40 patients suffering from the articular-and-visceral form of RA without SRN, and 25 patients with the articular form of RA. The systolic LV function was evaluated in all the 105 RA patients using M-mode Echo CG. In 20 patients with SRN systolic and diastolic LV function was evaluated with radionuclide ventriculography (RVG). The hemodynamic parameters obtained with Echo CG and RVG were processed according to variation statistics rules, presenting the data in groups as a mean and the standard error (M +/- m); the results were compared between the patients and between the patients and healthy controls. The significance was estimated using Student criterion (p < 0.05). In the group of RA patients with SRN, Echo CG and RVG found a significant decrease in LV systolic function parameters vs. patients without SRN and healthy controls. RVG revealed LV diastolic dysfunction in RA patients with SRN. Systolodiastolic LV dysfunction in these patients suggests myocardial involvement. Present-day instrumental methods of the evaluation of functional heart condition may be used to evaluate systolic and diastolic LV function in RA patients, especially during the dynamic observation of the effectiveness of RA treatment with modern anti-rheumatic preparations. |
