Evaluation of Cardiac Function by Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Ulcerative Colitis Patients

Purpose Although ulcerative colitis (UC) shows obvious similarities with other autoimmune diseases, cardiac consequences have not adequately introduced. The aim of our study was to evaluate left ventricular (LV) function in UC patients by using novel echocardiographic parameters. Results Forty-five UC patients (mean age 37, 18 female) and 90 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers (mean age 40, 38 female) included in the study. The mean disease activity score according to partial Mayo score was 2.16 ± 2.13. Mean global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global longitudinal strain rate (GLSR) measurements were significantly lower (−21.16 ± 2.71 vs. −23.36 ± 3.34; p