Fragmented QRS complexes are associated with subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in patients with Behcet's disease: Four‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography

Abstract

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.

Unveiling cardiac insights: Exploring early left ventricular dysfunction in polycythemia vera through 4D‐STE and fragmented QRS analysis

“…In a study by Hidayet et al. with Behçet's patients, it was found that GLS and GAS were impaired in the fQRS+ group, and there was a positive correlation between disease duration and the fQRS 32 . Similarly, in our study, longer disease duration correlates with worsened LV‐GCS and LV‐GAS, emphasizing the cumulative impact of elevated red blood cell counts on cardiac function over time.…”

Evaluation of QRS duration and presence of fragmented QRS in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

“…International Publisher between the chronic inflammatory state and cardiovascular diseases has been well established in the literature, pathological changes in ECG in inflammatory systemic diseases have gained interest in recent years [6]. In this concept, prolongation in QRS duration, which is related to an increased risk of arrhythmia, and the presence of fragmented QRS (fQRS), which is a sign of myocardial fibrosis has been widely studied in patients with chronic inflammatory systemic diseases [7][8][9][10]. To the best of our knowledge, fQRS and QRS duration have never been studied in IBD patients before.…”