Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by widespread microangiopathy and fibrosis of skin and visceral organs. Left ventricle involvement is usually subclinical, characterized by systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction. The global longitudinal strain (GLS), a validated and reliable technique for the measurement of ventricular longitudinal deformation by means of echocardiography, may detect subclinical systolic dysfunction of SSc myocardium. The improvement of myocardial perfusion by means of intravenous Iloprost administration could ameliorate the contractility of SSc heart. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate GLS in a series of SSc patients prior and after Iloprost infusion.
METHODS: Fifteen consecutive SSc patients (age: 54 ± 11 years; 12 females) treated with Iloprost because of the presence/history of digital ulcers underwent echocardiography, including GLS technique. This evaluation was conducted immediately before Iloprost administration and at the end of the 6-h infusion session.
RESULTS: Significant improvement in the mean GLS was observed after Iloprost administration (from -13.5 ± 2.5 to -15 ± 3.3; p= 0.011). The echocardiographic data obtained from the four-chamber view showed the best quality for GLS analysis and showed a highly significant improvement of the strain after Iloprost administration (from -13.4 ± 2.2 to -15.6 ± 3; p= 0.001). The degree of GLS improvement did not correlate with any SSc parameters.
CONCLUSIONS: Iloprost administration improved GLS, suggesting that the increase of myocardial perfusion allowed, at least in part, a correction of left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings, further exploring the mid/long-term effects of Iloprost on myocardial contraction.
METHODS: Fifteen consecutive SSc patients (age: 54 ± 11 years; 12 females) treated with Iloprost because of the presence/history of digital ulcers underwent echocardiography, including GLS technique. This evaluation was conducted immediately before Iloprost administration and at the end of the 6-h infusion session.
RESULTS: Significant improvement in the mean GLS was observed after Iloprost administration (from -13.5 ± 2.5 to -15 ± 3.3; p= 0.011). The echocardiographic data obtained from the four-chamber view showed the best quality for GLS analysis and showed a highly significant improvement of the strain after Iloprost administration (from -13.4 ± 2.2 to -15.6 ± 3; p= 0.001). The degree of GLS improvement did not correlate with any SSc parameters.
CONCLUSIONS: Iloprost administration improved GLS, suggesting that the increase of myocardial perfusion allowed, at least in part, a correction of left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings, further exploring the mid/long-term effects of Iloprost on myocardial contraction.
摘要：
目的：系统性硬化症（SSc）的特征是广泛的微血管病和皮肤和内脏器官的纤维化。左心室受累通常是亚临床的，以收缩和/或舒张功能障碍为特征。全局纵向应变(GLS)，一种通过超声心动图测量心室纵向变形的有效且可靠的技术，可以检测到SSc心肌的亚临床收缩功能障碍。通过静脉注射伊洛前列素改善心肌灌注可以改善SSc心脏的收缩力。因此,我们的目的是评估伊洛前列素输注前后一系列SSc患者的GLS.
方法：15例连续的SSc患者（年龄：54±11岁；12名女性）因存在/有指状溃疡史而接受了超声心动图检查，包括GLS技术。在伊洛前列素给药之前和6小时输注结束时立即进行该评价。
结果:在伊洛前列素给药后观察到平均GLS的显著改善(从-13.5±2.5至-15±3.3;p=0.011)。从四腔视图获得的超声心动图数据显示了GLS分析的最佳质量，并显示了伊洛前列素给药后菌株的显着改善（从-13.4±2.2到-15.6±3；p=0.001）。GLS改善的程度与任何SSc参数无关。
结论：伊洛前列素可改善GLS，表明心肌灌注的增加是允许的，至少在某种程度上,纠正左心室收缩功能障碍。需要进一步的研究来证实这些发现，进一步探讨伊洛前列素对心肌收缩的中、长期影响。
方法：15例连续的SSc患者（年龄：54±11岁；12名女性）因存在/有指状溃疡史而接受了超声心动图检查，包括GLS技术。在伊洛前列素给药之前和6小时输注结束时立即进行该评价。
结果:在伊洛前列素给药后观察到平均GLS的显著改善(从-13.5±2.5至-15±3.3;p=0.011)。从四腔视图获得的超声心动图数据显示了GLS分析的最佳质量，并显示了伊洛前列素给药后菌株的显着改善（从-13.4±2.2到-15.6±3；p=0.001）。GLS改善的程度与任何SSc参数无关。
结论：伊洛前列素可改善GLS，表明心肌灌注的增加是允许的，至少在某种程度上,纠正左心室收缩功能障碍。需要进一步的研究来证实这些发现，进一步探讨伊洛前列素对心肌收缩的中、长期影响。
