Diastolic abnormalities insystemic sclerosis: evidence forassociated defective cardiac functional reserve

Objective-To investigate thepattern of diastolic abnormalities inpatients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) andtherelationshipbetweenimpaired ventricular filling andsystolic function. Methods-Twenty fourpatients withSSc underwent M-modeandtwodimensional echocardiography usingecho-Doppler andgated bloodpoolcardiac angiography, bothatrestandafter exercise. Results-An impaired diastolic relaxation oftheleft ventricle wasdetected in10of the24patients withSSc.Leftventricular ejection fraction atrestinthese 10patients withimpaired ventricular filling didnot differ fromthatintheremaining 14 patients, buteightofthe10failed to increase theirejection fraction during exercise, compared withtwoofthe14with normalventricular filling (p=0-003). Conclusion-Impaired relaxation ofthe