Objective
The aim of this study was to evaluate the left ventricular (LV) systolic strain by four‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (4D‐STE) in order to provide the early detection of myocardial dysfunction in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS).
Methods
Forty consecutive patients with primary SS diagnosed at the rheumatology outpatient clinic and 35 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy volunteers were included in the study. 4DSTE was performed, and global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), global radial strain (GRS), and global area strain (GAS) were measured. 4DSTE results were compared with the healthy volunteers.
Results
No significant differences were observed between the GRS and GCS values of the two groups. A significant difference was observed in the GLS and GAS measurements between the two groups (P = .005 for GLS, P < .001 for GAS). Positive correlation was detected between disease duration and LV‐GLS and LV‐GAS.
Conclusion
We demonstrated subclinical systolic dysfunction in SS patients by 4DSTE, which is a sensitive marker of ventricular dysfunction. Deterioration of the LV became more evident as duration of the disease increased. Therefore, we believe that a cardiac evaluation will be of benefit to patients with long‐term SS.
Background: Determining a relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the ECG findings of the patients with this disease can assist in early diagnosis and patient management based on these findings. This study aimed to investigate whether COVID-19 patients had characteristic ECG findings in the acute period. Methods: A total of 124 patients were divided into two groups as those diagnosed with COVID-19 and controls. The ECGs of these patients were evaluated in terms of rate, rhythm, presence of ST changes, PR interval, QRS width, QTc and QT interval, and presence of right and left bundle branch blocks. Results: On the ECG, the median heart rate of the COVID-19 patients was 104/min (IQR: 99–114), and there was a significant difference compared to the control group (P<0.001). The median PR interval was 157/ms, the QRS width was 86 ± 9/ms in the COVID-19 patients, with no significant difference compared to the controls (P = 0.161 and P = 0.631, respectively). The median QT interval of the COVID-19 patients was normal (400/ms), but a significant difference was detected compared to the controls (P = 0.005). The QTc, ST change, AF, and presence of right and left bundle branch blocks were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: Considering the importance of ECG findings in order to diagnose COVID-19 disease early, we can state that sinus tachycardia is very common in COVID-19 patients, but there is no characteristic ECG finding for COVID-19, including tachycardia.
Background
Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease in which early detection of cardiac involvement is essential. The aim of this study was to assess the left ventricular (LV) functions in BD patients using four‐dimensional (4D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and to test the correlation between LV dysfunction and the presence of QRS fragmentation.
Methods
This cross‐sectional study included 64 Behcet's patients and 48 healthy volunteers. The BD group was divided into two subgroups depending on the presence (fQRS+) or absence (fQRS−) of fragmented QRS (fQRS). In both groups, left ventricular global area strain (LV‐GAS), global radial strain (GRS), global longitudinal strain (GLS), and global circumferential strain (GCS) were obtained with 4D echocardiography.
Results
GAS, GRS, GLS, and GCS values were significantly different in Behcet's patients and in healthy volunteers. GLS and GAS values were lower in the fQRS+ than in the fQRS− group (−15.8 ± 1.8 and −17.9 ± 1.6, P = .001 vs −25.0 ± 3.1 and −29.2 ± 4.2, P < .001, respectively). The duration of disease was longer in fQRS+ than in fQRS− patients (120.8 ± 67.4 vs 71.0 ± 40.5, P < .001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that fQRS and disease duration were independent predictors of LV‐GAS.
Conclusions
Four‐dimensional STE may be helpful for the prediction of early cardiac dysfunction in patients with BD. The presence of fQRS may be an indicator of subclinical LV dysfunction.
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