The heart is one of the main targets in systemic lupus erithematosus (SLE) and primary anti-phospholipid syndrome (PAPLS). Histologic studies have shown that abnormalities of myocardial structure due to areas of inflammation, necrosis and fibrosis are common in these diseases. The statistical analysis of the pictorial features of conventional 2D echocardiographic images provides reliable information on myocardial structure in vivo. Aim of the study was to assess whether a young population of cardiac symptom-free patients with SLE or PAPLS could show abnormalities of myocardial structure. Thirty-seven patients (pts), 22 with SLE (mean age 37+/-8 years), 15 with PAPLS (mean age 38+/-10 years) and 12 normals of comparable age underwent a conventional 2D echocardiogram. Images, obtained from the apical approach, were recorded as still frames at end-diastole on a high quality videorecorder, off line digitized and converted in matrices of 256x256 pixels. First order statistics analysis was done to describe the grey level distribution in the iv septum. The parameters to assess myocardial structure were: mean grey level (overall tonal look), uniformity (tonal homogeneity) and entropy (histogram disorder). No differences in basal LV function were found between the three groups. Significant differences for all the structural parameters were observed between both SLE and PAPLS pts, when compared to controls, due to an abnormally increased echogenicity and inhomogeneity of the myocardial pattern. (p<.05 vs control) Thus, young SLE and PAPLS pts show an abnormal myocardial structure, as evidenced by the statistical analysis of conventional 2-D echo images. These changes can be assessed in cardiac symptom-free pts even in absence of any detectable left ventricular dysfunction, and are possibly related to a sub-clinical inflammatory process.
Pathologic myocardial structure with normal ventricular function in primary antiphospholipid syndrome, and systemic lupus erithematosus. A videodensitometry study on 2-D echocardiograms
E M Ferdeghini;
1998
Abstract
The heart is one of the main targets in systemic lupus erithematosus (SLE) and primary anti-phospholipid syndrome (PAPLS). Histologic studies have shown that abnormalities of myocardial structure due to areas of inflammation, necrosis and fibrosis are common in these diseases. The statistical analysis of the pictorial features of conventional 2D echocardiographic images provides reliable information on myocardial structure in vivo. Aim of the study was to assess whether a young population of cardiac symptom-free patients with SLE or PAPLS could show abnormalities of myocardial structure. Thirty-seven patients (pts), 22 with SLE (mean age 37+/-8 years), 15 with PAPLS (mean age 38+/-10 years) and 12 normals of comparable age underwent a conventional 2D echocardiogram. Images, obtained from the apical approach, were recorded as still frames at end-diastole on a high quality videorecorder, off line digitized and converted in matrices of 256x256 pixels. First order statistics analysis was done to describe the grey level distribution in the iv septum. The parameters to assess myocardial structure were: mean grey level (overall tonal look), uniformity (tonal homogeneity) and entropy (histogram disorder). No differences in basal LV function were found between the three groups. Significant differences for all the structural parameters were observed between both SLE and PAPLS pts, when compared to controls, due to an abnormally increased echogenicity and inhomogeneity of the myocardial pattern. (p<.05 vs control) Thus, young SLE and PAPLS pts show an abnormal myocardial structure, as evidenced by the statistical analysis of conventional 2-D echo images. These changes can be assessed in cardiac symptom-free pts even in absence of any detectable left ventricular dysfunction, and are possibly related to a sub-clinical inflammatory process.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
