BackgroundRight ventricular function is a crucial factor of the prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).ObjectivesTo evaluate the right ventricular function in SLE patients with different degrees of pulmonary hypertension (PH) by strain and strain rate imaging.MethodsA total of 102 SLE patients and 30 healthy volunteers were studied between October 2015 and May 2016. Patients were divided into three groups according to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) estimated by echocardiography: group control (A); PASP ≤ 30 mmHg (group B, n = 37); PASP 30-50 mmHg (mild PH; group C, n = 34); and PASP ≥ 50 mmHg (moderate-to-severe PH; group D, n = 31). Longitudinal peak systolic strain (ε) and strain rate (SR), including systolic strain rate (SRs), early diastolic strain rate (SRe) and late diastolic strain rate (SRa) were measured in the basal, middle and apical segments of the right ventricular free wall in participants by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) from the apical four-chamber view. A p < 0.05 was set for statistical significance.ResultsThe parameters of ε, SRs, SRe, and SRa were significantly decreased in groups C and D compared with groups A and B. The ε of each segments was significantly lower in group D than in group C, while there were no differences in SRs, SRe and SRa between groups C and D.ConclusionsStrain and strain rate imaging could early detect the right ventricular dysfunction in SLE patients with PH, and provide important value for clinical therapy and prognosis of these patients.

Left ventricular longitudinal systolic dysfunction was detected. Moreover, an impaired endocardium was also detected in an early assessment by layer-specific 2DSTE.

The Anatolian Journal of Cardiology is an international monthly periodical on cardiology published on independent, unbiased, double-blinded and peerreview principles. The journal's publication language is English however titles of articles, abstracts and Keywords are also published in Turkish on the journal's web site.The Anatolian Journal of Cardiology aims to publish qualified and original clinical, experimental and basic research on cardiology at the international level. The journal's scope also covers editorial comments, reviews of innovations in medical education and practice, case reports, original images, scientific letters, educational articles, letters to the editor, articles on publication ethics, diagnostic puzzles, and issues in social cardiology.The target readership includes academic members, specialists, residents, and general practitioners working in the fields of adult cardiology, pediatric cardiology, cardiovascular surgery and internal medicine.

Objective To evaluate left atrial function in patients with triple‐vessel disease (TVD) without myocardial infarction by real‐time three‐dimensional echocardiography (RT‐3DE) and two‐dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D‐STE). Methods Sixty patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) without myocardial infarction were classified into two groups in accordance with the coronary angiography results: group B (all triple‐vessel stenosis ≥ 50% and < 75%) and group C (all triple‐vessel stenosis ≥ 75%). Thirty healthy individuals were selected as group A. LA volume related parameters including left atrial maximum volume index (LAVImax), LA passive and active ejection fraction (LAPEF, LAAEF) and LA total ejection fraction (LATEF) were measured by RT‐3DE. The global peak atrial longitudinal systolic strain (LASRs), early and late diastolic LA strain (LASRe and LASRa) rates were measured by 2D‐STE. Results We found statistically significant differences between 2D‐STE and RT‐3DE related parameters of these three groups. Furthermore, in groups B and C, N‐terminal fragment brain natriuretic peptides (NT‐pro‐BNP) and left ventricular end‐diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were found to be significantly correlated with LASRs and LASRa. And NT‐pro‐BNP had a moderate correlation with LVEDP. Conclusions 2D‐STE and RT‐3DE can assess the LA function in patients with TVD without myocardial infarction. And LA strain values may provide additional information for predicting increased LVEDP and NT‐pro‐BNP.