VOLUMETRIC AND GEOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LEFT VENTRICLE IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY

Abstract

Aim. To study and conduct the clinical and echocardiographic examinations of the left ventricle in patients with rheumatoid arthritis depending on the activity of the inflammatory process. Material and methods. Examination of 95 patients with confirmed diagnoses of rheumatoid arthritis according to the criteria of the American colleague of Rheumatology were observed in the rheumatology department of the SI State Medical Center №2 in the city of Dushanbe. Patients aged 18 to 68 years (average age 46±3,4). Among the examined patients, there were 84 (81,5%) women and 19 (18,5%) men, the average duration of rheumatoid arthritis was 8,2±1,6 years. Echocardiography was performed for all examined patients, and the level of inflammatory activity was calculated using the DAS-28 index. Results and discussion. The results of the study showed that patients from the second group of activity had a significant increase in the end-diastolic dimension of the left ventricle and sphericity index along with a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction and integral systolic remodeling index in comparison to the control group. Low numbers of integral systolic remodeling index, that reflects the relation of left ventricle systolic function with geometric features were observed in patients of a second group with rheumatoid arthritis. Conclusion: Thus, the most pronounced changes in intracardiac hemodynamics are observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with the second level of activity.