Peak strain dispersion within the left ventricle detected by two-dimensional speckle tracking in patients with uncomplicated systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often leads to various cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to investigate the value of peak strain dispersion (PSD) in evaluating left ventricular dysfunction in patients with uncomplicated SLE. Eighty-seven female SLE patients and fifty-nine healthy female controls were recruited. The SLE patients were divided into inactive disease (SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) <= 4; n = 48) and active disease (SLEDAI >= 5; n = 39) subgroups. Traditional echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography were performed using a GE VividE9 ultrasound diagnostic system and an advanced quantitative analysis EchoPAC workstation (version 201), respectively. The global longitudinal strain (GLS) in the SLE with SLEDAI <= 4 group was comparable to that in the control group (- 19.89% vs - 20.7%; P = 0.061). However, GLS was obviously damaged in the SLE with SLEDAI >= 5 group compared with that in the control group (- 19.07% vs - 20.7%; P < 0.001). PSD impairment was observed in the SLE with SLEDAI <= 4 group (33.83 ms vs 31.44 ms; P = 0.012) and SLE with SLEDAI >= 5 groups (52.31 ms vs 31.44 ms; P < 0.001), but the largest difference was observed in the active disease group. Linear regression analysis showed that PSD was moderately correlated with the SLEDAI (r = 0.535; P < 0.001) in SLE patients with SLEDAI <= 4 and showed the best correlation with the SLEDAI (r = 0.646; P < 0.001) in the SLE patients with SLEDAI >= 5. A correlation between GLS and the SLEDAI (r = 0.359; P = 0.025) was found in the active disease group but not in the inactive disease group (r = 0.253; P = 0.082). PSD is more comprehensive and accurate for evaluating left ventricular subclinical dysfunction in SLE patients. In inactive SLE patients, PSD is a more sensitive index to evaluate early systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle. GLS may be a more vulnerable indicator of early left ventricular cardiac dysfunction in active SLE patients. Controlling disease activity may reduce the events of cardiac dysfunction.