Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in Rheumatoid Disease
An Unrecognized Burden?
Gurbir S. Bhatia, MRCP*,
Michael D. Sosin, MRCP*,
Jeetesh V. Patel, PhD*,
Karl A. Grindulis, FRCP ,
Fazal H. Khattak, FRCP ,
Elizabeth A. Hughes, BSc, FRCP ,
Gregory Y.H. Lip, MD, FRCP, FACC, FESC* and
Russell C. Davis, MRCP, MD*,*
* Haemostasis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology Unit, University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham, England
Department of Rheumatology, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Lyndon, West Bromwich, England
Department of Chemical Pathology, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Lyndon, West Bromwich, England

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Figure 1 Box plots showing median plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels (horizontal bars) for normal left ventricular (LV) function versus left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). Median BNP = 8.5 pmol/l (interquartile range, 8.8) in those with normal LV function versus 16.6 pmol/l (interquartile range, 26.1) in those with LVSD. LVEF = left ventricular ejection fraction.
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