ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular lesions are commonly found in children and adolescence with different collagen diseases with relevant implication in mortality and morbidity. The purpose of the study was to verify whether there is any sign of cardiovascular involvement in juvenile collagen diseases using electrocardiography [ECG] and echocardiography [ECHO]. The study was carried out on 77 patients, 52 juvenile idiopathic arthritis [JIA], 20 systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE], 3 spondylarthropathy [SPA] and 2 juvenile dermatomyositis [JDM]. They were free of any clinically evident of cardiac manifestations. Thirty six healthy children were enrolled as control group All subjects underwent complete history and physical examinations, x ray chest, ECG and two dimensional, M mode, continuous wave [CW], pulse wave [PW] and color flow Doppler examinations. The following investigations were done erythrocyte sedimentation. rate[ESR], antistreptolysin O titre [ASOT], C reactive protein[CRP], rheumatoid factor[RF], antinuclear antibodies[ANA] and anti double stranded DNA[anti ds DNA]. Minor ECG changes were detected in 3 SLE and 2 JDM. ECHO showed pericardial effusion in 2 [3.3%] JIA and 3[15%] SLE. Aortic insufficiency was detected in 5[9.6%] JIA, 4 [20%] SLE. Mitral regurge was found in 7[13.4%] JIA, 5 [25%] SLE. Mild tricuspid regurge was detected in 3[15%] SLE. Mild pulmonary hypertension was found in 4[20%] SLE. Significant systolic dysfunction was elicited in JIA in form of increased left ventricular end diastolic diameter [LVEDD], left ventricular end systolic diameter[LVESD], left ventricular end diastolic volume[LVEDV] and left ventricular end systolic volume[LVESV] and reduction of ejection fraction [EF] and fractional shortening [FS]. In SLE .there was significant reduction, of EF and FS. Significant diastolic dysfunction was manifested in JIA by decreased peak early [E], E acceleration time [Eat], E duration [Edur], Total duration [Tdur], [E/A] ratio and A acceleration time [Aat] and increased peak atrial filling velocity [A], E deceleration time [Edt], isovolumic relaxation time [IVRT] and A deceleration time [Adt] and in SLE by decreased [E] and [E/A] ratio and increased [Edt] and in JDM by decreased [E] and [E/A] ratio and increased [IVRT]. In JIA, there was a positive correlation between age and [LVEDD] and disease duration with both [LVEDD] and [LVESD] and negative correlation between disease duration and EF. Cardiovascular involvement in juvenile collagen diseases is common. Regular cardiac evaluation using [ECG] and [ECHO] is recommended for early diagnosis of cardiac involvement. Key words: Cardiovascular-juvenile-collagen diseases