Right ventricular thickness as predictor of global myocardial performance in systemic sclerosis: A Doppler tissue imaging study

Patients with SSc exhibit abnormal RV and LV diastolic functions as well as abnormal RV systolic function. RV wall thickness was found to be simple and the single best predictor of global myocardial performance. RV dysfunction may be a response to intermittent pulmonary arterial hypertension, lung parenchymal involvement, or secondary to LV diastolic dysfunction in SSc.