RESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluate left ventricular-filling in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA], analyzing transmitral flow and pulmonary venous flow, with special regard to disease duration. Forty-five patients affected by RA according to ARA criteria were selected, without evidence of cardiac disease, and compared with matched control subjects. All patients and control group were submitted to M-mode, two- dimensional Doppler and color Doppler [continuous and pulsed wave] echocardiography. Transmitral flow [E/A ratio], pulmonary venous flow [S/D ratio], IVRT and DT. In RA patients, left ventricular filling abnormalities were found to be characterized by a reduced E/A ratio. It was concluded that RA patients, in the absence of clinical evidence of heart disease, show LV diastolic dysfunction characterized by impaired E/A and S/D ratio. The relation with the disease duration suggests a sub-clinical myocardial involvement