Arterial stiffness is associated with left ventricular dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Arterial stiffness (AS) has a detrimental effect on cardiovascular system particularly on left ventricle (LV). The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of AS on LV functions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Forty patients with RA and 25 age-sex matched control subjects (mean age 48.5 ± 6.3 vs. 45.1 ± 6.9 years, respectively, p = 0.06) were enrolled in study. AS was assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) and heart rate corrected augmentation index (AIx@75) measured by applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor). LV function was evaluated using tissue Doppler-derived myocardial performance index (MPI) from lateral mitral annulus. CF-PWV (28.3 ± 10.3 vs. 21.8 ± 9.3 m/s, p = 0.03), AIx@75 (10.2 ± 2.3 vs. 9.2 ± 1, %, p = 0.01) and MPI (0.46 ± 0.12 vs. 0.36 ± 0.1, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with RA than in controls. LV MPI was found to be significantly positive correlated with CF-PWV, AIx@75, and ESR (r = 0.360, p = 0.005; r = 0.334, p = 0.009; r = 0.293, p = 0.023, respectively). Arterial stiffness parameters including CF-PWV and AIx@75 are associated with subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in patients with RA.