Pulmonary hypertension in patients with Sj¨ ogren's syndrome: Gender differences in cardiovascular risk factors and instrumental data

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (pH) is a well-documented complication in patients with connective tissue diseases, including Sjögren's syndrome (SS). However, the prevalence of PH in SS varies considerably across studies, likely due to differences in diagnostic methods. Aim of the study: This study aims to assess the prevalence of PH in a cohort of SS patients and to examine potential differences in age, cardiovascular risk factors, autoimmunity, pulmonary function tests, and echocardiographic parameters between male and female SS patients. Patients and methods: Sixty-three patients diagnosed with primary SS were included in this study. Male patients were compared to females regarding age, cardiovascular risk factors, autoimmunity, pulmonary function tests, and echocardiographic parameters. All patients underwent comprehensive cardiac echo-color-Doppler evaluations during their most recent follow-up. Results: The prevalence of PH in the study cohort was 1.6 %. Respiratory function tests revealed significantly lower values in male patients compared to females. Echocardiographic assessments also indicated more pronounced alterations in males in pulmonary artery diameter and TVI-RVOT. In left-sided heart parameters, males showed greater dilatation and signs of diastolic dysfunction. Mass 2D and ejection fraction FE2D were also altered in males. Discussion and conclusion: The low prevalence of PH (1.6 %) in SS patients when diagnosed with RHC emphasizes the importance of using accurate diagnostic methods. As male patients demonstrated a greater predisposition to developing PH, as evidenced by altered respiratory function, and early diastolic dysfunction, regular echocardiographic monitoring is recommended for male SS patients, particularly those exhibiting early structural or functional cardiac changes.