Association Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pulmonary Hypertension: A Clinical Investigation

Abstract

Assessment of pulmonary hypertension (PAH) frequency and its association with interstitial lung disease (ILD), left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), and valvular heart diseases (VHD) in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Cross-sectional study. Cardiology and Rheumatology Departments, Ghaem Medical Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. A total of 40 patients with RA without history or clinical features of cardiac diseases underwent cardiopulmonary and rheumatological assessment, including history taking, physical examination, chest X-ray, chest High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT), and echocardiography. Echocardiographic variables of patients with RA were measured and analyzed. The relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and pulmonary hypertension. The prevalence of PAH was 60% in RA. The tests showed no significant differences in PAH between age and gender groups. The most common valve involvement among patients was tricuspid insufficiency, followed by mitral insufficiency. Grades I and II LVDD were present in 27.5% and 2.5% of patients, respectively. There were significant correlations between systolic velocity (Sm) and ejection fraction, early diastolic velocity and diastolic velocity, as well as Sm and systolic wave velocity. This study revealed a high prevalence of severe LVDD in RA patients with PAH. Early diagnosis and management of cardiovascular risk factors may prevent the development and progression of PAH in RA patients.