Regional diastolic function by tissue Doppler echocardiography in systemic sclerosis: correlation with clinical variables.

The incidence of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is increased in systemic sclerosis (SSc), while systolic dysfunction is present in a small percentage of patients. The aim of this study was to asses the LV "regional" diastolic abnormalities in SSc patients by the mean of Doppler tissue imaging (DTI). Echocardiographic echo-Doppler (DE) and DTI parameters were analyzed for 67 SSc patients: abnormal E/A ratio at DE was detected in 24, while abnormal e/a at DTI was observed in 41. A significant prevalence of DTI diastolic abnormalities in the segments reflecting longitudinal versus those reflecting radial LV motion was found. The segments of the basal regions of LV myocardium were significantly more involved than those of the middle portion. Linear correlation was observed between the extent of the diastolic abnormalities and the duration of disease. Longitudinal myocardial systolic velocities were significantly reduced in patients with abnormal e/a DTI.