Evaluation of pulmonary artery stiffness in patients with systemic sclerosis

Objective: The study aims to investigate the use of pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS) parameter in early diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and pulmonary hypertension in SSc patients. Patients and Methods: The study involved 102 SSc patients and 45 control group patients, who underwent transthoracic echocardiographic evaluations. Results: Pulmonary artery stiffness was measured as 25.7 +/- 7.6 (Hz/msn) in the SSc cases and 13.7 +/- 1.6 (Hz/msn) in the healthy subjects (P< 0.001). TAPSE/sPAP ratio, which we used as an indicator of RV -PA coupling, was calculated as 0.65+0.28 in SSc cases and 1.12+0.33 in the control group (P<0.001). When we evaluated PAS values of subgroups PAS was significantly higher in SScPH(-) patients without pulmonary hypertension than control subjects (respectively; 21.67 +/- 3.9; 13.7 +/- 1.6, P<0.001). The relationship of PAS with the parameters in which pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular functions were evaluated, there was a positive correlation with sPAP( r: - 0.396, P <0.001), while a negative correlation was observed with TAPSE/sPAP (r: 0.456, P<0.001). Conclusion: We observed higher PAS values in SScPH(-) patients compared to the control group and found a positive correlation between the increase in PAS and sPAP and a negative correlation between them and TAPSE/sPAP.