Abstract:Objective To evaluate the right ventricular systolic function by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) in the patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) without pulmonary hypertension (PAH). Methods A total of 30 patients with SSc without PAH were enrolled, 16 had limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc), 14 patients had diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc). For comparison, 22 matched healthy control subjects were included. All subjects underwent transthoracic echocardiography. The right ventricular free wall global longitudinal peak systolic strain (GLS) and strain rate (GLSRs), and longitudinal peak systolic strain (LS) and strain rate (LSRs) of basal segment, middle segment and apical segment were measured by 2D-STI respectively. Every parameter was compared. The main factors affecting the right ventricular LS and LSRs were analyzed. Results The strain and strain rate curves of the segments of the right ventricular lateral wall were in regular distribution, and the basal segment was the largest, and the apical segment was the smallest in every group. GLS and GLSRs of the right ventricular lateral wall, basal segment LS and LSRs, and middle segment LS were significantly different between the SSc patients and the healthy controls (P < 0.05). The patients with dcSSc showed worse values in GLS, basal segment LS and LSRs and middle segment LS as compared with the patients with lcSSc (P < 0.05). Conclusions The right ventricular systolic function is damaged in the patients with SSc without PAH. The patients with dcSSc show worse function as compared to the patients with lcSSc. 2D-STI analysis can detect the subtle right ventricular global and part systolic dysfunction.