Evaluation of left and right ventricle by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in systemic sclerosis patients without overt cardiac disease

Background/objective The aim was to evaluate the left and right ventricular functions concurrently by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients without overt cardiac disease. Methods A total of 47 patients with SSc and 36 age- and sex-matched controls were evaluated cross-sectionally. Two-dimensional STE was used to assess the longitudinal peak systolic strains (PSS) of both ventricles including apical long-axis (APLAX), apical four-chamber (4-CH), apical two-chamber (2-CH), and global longitudinal measurements. Any association of metabolic, cardiac, and inflammatory biomarkers with PSS was investigated. Results The longitudinal PSS of the left ventricle [APLAX, 4-CH, 2-CH and global] were significantly lower in SSc patients than controls (− 18.2 ± 3.2 vs − 19.8 ± 2.7% p = 0.02; − 17.8 ± 3.5 vs. − 20.3 ± 3.3% p = 0.001; − 18.6 ± 3.1 vs. − 21.8 ± 3% p