In this study, cardiac involvements in 50 patients with Sjögren's syndrome were observed noninvasively using echocardiography and pulsed Doppler echocardiography and compared with 24 age-matched healthy controls. The results were as follows : (1) Nonspecific ECG abnormalities were found in 22 patients (44%). These abnormalities were not dependent on ANF or anti-SS-A antibody. (2) Systolic ventricular function in patients with Sjögren's syndrome was not significantly
different from that in the controls. However, left ventricular wall thickness and left ventricular mass in patients with Sjögren's syndrome were increased compared to those in the controls (p＜0.01). (3) Isovolumic relaxation time (IRT ; from the aortic second heart sound to the opening of the mitral valve) in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (mean 79±16 msec) was significantly different from that in the controls (63±14 msec) (p＜0.01). These findings were partially dependent on duration of disease but not on whether complication, ANF, or anti-SS-A antibody was present. (4) Pericardial effusion was detected in 16 patients with Sjögren's syndrome (32%). (5) Valvular regurgitation was identified in 8 patients (17.0%) with Sjögren's syndrome and in 3 controls (12.5%). These findings suggest that left ventricular diastolic property in patients with Sjögren's syndrome is impaired in comparison with that in the healthy controls
