Evaluation of right ventricular function performed by 3D-echocardiography in scleroderma patients.

The impairment of the right ventricle (RV) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is usually related to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). New echocardiographic techniques, such as 3-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) and 2-dimensional speckle tracking (2DSTE), allow an accurate evaluation of the RV function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the RV function using 3DE and 2DSTE in SSc patients with no history of heart disease and no PAH. Forty-five SSc patients, 42 females and 3 males, 28 with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) and 17 with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc), were studied. Forty-three age- and gender-matched healthy subjects were enrolled as controls. All of them underwent a 3DE and 2DSTE ecocardiographic evaluation of the RV function. Systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) and total pulmonary vascular resistance (tPVR) were also estimated by power doppler. RV echocardiographic parameters were compared in the different subsets of SSc patients. A statistical analysis was performed by t-test, ANOVA and multiple logistic regression. RV areas in 2DSTE and volumes in 3DE were higher and RV function parameters were reduced in SSc patients compared with controls. Also sPAP and tVPR were higher, but they did not reach pathological values. Echocardiographic alterations were more pronounced in patients with lcSSc. 3DE and 2DSTE echocardiography allowed us to detect morphological and functional alterations of the RV in a group of SSc patients with no clinical signs of heart disease and no PAH. These patients had significantly higher sPAP and tPVR than healthy controls without reporting values compatible with PAH. These data suggest that RV alterations are related to a pressure overload rather than to an intrinsic myocardial involvement in SSc.

Low occurrence of digital ulcers in scleroderma patients treated with bosentan for pulmonary arterial hypertension: a retrospective case-control study.

Digital ulcers (DU) are one of the most common and debilitating manifestations of vasculopathy in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Their prevention is important in order to improve patients' outcome and as a result of the economic impact they have on society. Randomised controlled studies have demonstrated that bosentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist, reduces the appearance of new DU. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the occurrence of DU in a group of patients receiving long-term bosentan treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with SSc (PAH-SSc). Patients with PAH-SSc and treated with bosentan for at least 6 months (n = 30) were evaluated. Thirty patients with SSc not treated with bosentan, but matched for sex, age, disease duration and cutaneous form of SSc, were considered as a control group. The occurrence of DU, defined as loss of tissue of varying degrees in the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue, was determined in the bosentan-treated and untreated groups. Mean duration of bosentan treatment was 3.6 years. DU were detected in six patients in the bosentan-treated group (20.0 %) and 16 patients (53.3 %) in the untreated group (p = 0.0015). There were no significant differences in demographic or clinical characteristics between patients with or without DU at study end. The occurrence of DU in patients with PAH-SSc receiving long-term bosentan treatment was significantly lower than in untreated patients. The results from this long-term observational study provide valuable information on management of patients with PAH-SSc.

Hypovitaminosis D in an hospitalized old population of Western Friuli.

OBJECTIVES: Hypovitaminosis D is very common in the elderly in Italy and generally in the world, contributing to bone fractures and muscle weakness. The aim of the study was to evaluate bone metabolism in an old population of patients hospitalized not for musculo-skeletal complaints. METHODS: The clinical records of 175 patients, 98 female and 77 male, aged >65 years, hospitalized in a Department of Internal Medicine (Sacile, Western Friuli) were retrospectively reviewed. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorous, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 25-OH vitamin D were evaluated. Correlations between these parameters were investigate. RESULTS: Abnormalities of bone metabolism parameters were frequently founded, particularly hypocalcemia, increased PTH and reduced 25-OH vitamin D. Hypovitaminosis D were detected in 88% of patients, low levels in 30.28% and very low levels in 57.72%. Hypovitaminosis D was related to female sex, old age of patients and high levels of PTH. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm that hypovitaminosis D is very common in elderly population. The study has been performed in an Italian Region where the supplementation of vitamin D in the elderly is not performed, suggesting that a awareness campaign of the doctors could be very useful to prevent bone metabolism abnormalities.