Table 2 Systolic circumferential strain, aortic distensibility and pulse wave velocity in SLE, SLE with CVRFs, controls and controls with CVRFs.

Mid SA systolic circumferential strain

-19.4 ± 1.1

-18.4 ± 1.4

-16.7 ± 1.2

16.3 ± 1.0

<0.001

Peak diastolic strain rate

144.5 ± 14.5

126.9 ± 20.7

99.6 ± 23.2

89.4 ± 17.3

<0.001

Aortic distensibility (10^-3mmHg^-1) Ascending aorta Proximal descending aorta Distal descending aorta

3.6 ± 2.0 4.1 ± 1.5 6.2 ± 2.5

3.1 ± 1.9 3.4 ± 1.7 4.7 ± 1.8

3.2 ± 1.1 3.8 ± 1.0 5.0 ± 1.2

2.4 ± 1.2 2.8 ± 1.0 3.6 ± 1.2

0.11 0.006 <0.001

Pulse wave velocity (m/s) Aortic arch PWV Descending aorta PWV Total PWV

4.2 ± 2.0 3.7 ± 1.5 4.3 ± 1.4

5.5 ± 1.9 5.9 ± 1.6 5.4 ± 2.4

6.0 ± 1.2 6.6 ± 1.6 6.3 ± 1.3

7.5 ± 2.1 8.1 ±1.7 8.5 ± 1.9

<0.001 <0.001 <0.001