Objectives 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. Conclusion 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.

中文翻译：

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接受伊洛前列素治疗的系统性硬化症患者心脏纵向应变率变化的评估：一项观察性研究


目的 SSc 的特征是广泛的微血管病和皮肤及内脏器官纤维化。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。整体纵向应变 （GLS） 是一种通过超声心动图测量心室纵向变形的成熟且可靠的技术，可以检测 SSc 心肌的亚临床收缩功能障碍。静脉注射伊洛前列素改善心肌灌注可改善 SSc 心脏的收缩力。因此，我们旨在评估伊洛前列素输注前后一系列 SSc 患者的 GLS。方法 连续 15 例因存在/有手指溃疡病史而接受伊洛前列素治疗的 SSc 患者 （年龄：54 ± 11 岁;12 例女性）接受了超声心动图检查，包括 GLS 技术。该评估在伊洛前列素给药前和 6 小时输注结束时进行。结果 伊洛前列素给药后观察到平均 GLS 显着改善 （从 -13.5 ± 2.5 到 -15 ± 3.3;P = 0.011）。从四腔视图获得的超声心动图数据显示 GLS 分析质量最佳，并显示伊洛前列素给药后菌株的改善非常显着 （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 伊洛前列素给药改善了 GLS，表明心肌灌注的增加至少部分地允许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，进一步探索伊洛前列素对心肌收缩的中/长期影响。