Introduction
Behçet’s disease is a systemic vasculitis that can affect all sizes of arteries and veins. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS) and the right ventricular (RV) functions in asymptomatic Behçet’s patients with no cardiovascular risk factors.
Material and Methods
We studied 40 patients who were diagnosed by the international diagnostic criteria of Behçet’s disease and 40 healthy individuals. Two groups were matched by age, gender, clinical history and other clinical features. Substantial medical history concerning the factors that can affect right ventricle diastolic function (such as medications, smoking status, other comorbities, etc.) was taken and general physical examination was carried out. The right and left ventricular functions as well as valvular functions were evaluated by echocardiography. Pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS) was measured by the division of maximal frequency shift (MFS) to acceleration time (PAcT) of the pulmonary artery flow trace.
Material and Methods
We studied 40 patients who were diagnosed by the international diagnostic criteria of Behçet’s disease and 40 healthy individuals. Two groups were matched by age, gender, clinical history and other clinical features. Substantial medical history concerning the factors that can affect right ventricle diastolic function (such as medications, smoking status, other comorbities, etc.) was taken and general physical examination was carried out. The right and left ventricular functions as well as valvular functions were evaluated by echocardiography. Pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS) was measured by the division of maximal frequency shift (MFS) to acceleration time (PAcT) of the pulmonary artery flow trace.
Results
Right ventricular myocardial performance index (MPI) value was found higher in Behçet’s patients and a statistically significant difference was detected between the groups<0.01). Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) values were found to be statistically significantly lower in the patient group as compared to the control group (p<0.01). In PW Doppler measurements, early passive filling (E) wave flow velocity and E/A ratio were found to be statistically significantly lower, deceleration time (DT) was higher in the patient group (p<0.01). In Behçet’s patients without clinical pulmonary involvement, the pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was found to be statistically significantly higher in the patient group (p<0.01). The values of pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS) were found to be significantly higher in the patient group (p<0.01). The relationship between the right ventricular function markers and PAS were evaluated in the patient group. There was no statistically significant relationship between PAS and MPI and TAPSE. But there was a significant correlation between PAS and PASP and duration of disease (p<0.001 and r=0.682; p=0.047 and r=0,316).
Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
Full access? Get Clinical Tree
