Left atrial dysfunction detected by speckle tracking in patients with systemic sclerosis

Table 2 Echocardiographic data

Echo variables	Group 1 (SSc) 42 pts	Group 2 (Controls) 42 pts	p
EF (%)	63.1 ± 4	66.1 ± 4	ns
LA indexed volumes (ml/m²)	24.9 ± 5.3	24.7 ± 4.4	ns
E/A	1.1 ± 0.4	1.3 ± 0.4	ns
E/e’	7.6 ± 2.4	6.5 ± 1.7	p˂0.05
PASP (mmHg)	24.1 ± 8	21 ± 7	ns
sec ϵ _{pos peak} (%)	18.4 ± 4	21.4 ± 7.6	p˂0.05
ϵ _{neg peak} (%)	-12.9 ± 2	-13.6 ± 3	ns
ϵ _{pos peak} (%)	31.3 ± 4.2	35 ± 7.6	p˂0.01

ϵ _{pos peak:} positive peak left atrial longitudinal strain; sec ϵ _{pos peak:} second positive peak left atrial longitudinal strain; ϵ _{neg peak} – negative peak left atrial longitudinal strain; A: mitral inflow late pulsatile Doppler wave; E: mitral inflow early pulsatile Doppler wave; e’: early diastolic mitral annular velocity; EF: ejection fraction; LA: left atrium; PASP: pulmonary artery systolic pressure; SSc: systemic sclerosis.

ISSN: 1476-7120