Comprehensive noninvasive assessment of cardiac involvement in limited systemic sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess cardiovascular abnormalities in patients with limited systemic sclerosis (SSc), using noninvasive cardiac techniques.


METHODS
Sixty-three patients with limited SSc were prospectively evaluated with Doppler echocardiography and thallium-201 perfusion scintigraphy after a cold-stress test and radionuclide ventriculography.


RESULTS
In the patients with limited SSc, there was a significantly high prevalence of abnormal left- and right-diastolic function parameters (P = 0.001 and P = 0.0002, respectively), thickening of papillary muscles (46%; P = 0.003), and mild mitral regurgitation (49%; P < 0.0001), compared with controls. Systolic pulmonary arterial hypertension was detected in 9 patients (14%), and pericardial effusion in 11 patients (18%). In 64% of patients with limited SSc, an ischemic response was detected on the thallium cold-stress scan; similarly, an ischemic response was detected in 57% of patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon (P < 0.0001 versus controls).


CONCLUSIONS
Although the frequency of cardiovascular symptoms was low in patients with limited SSc, a significant rate of cardiovascular abnormalities was found by noninvasive cardiac techniques.
Candell-Riera
J
J
Hospital General Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
Armadans-Gil
L
L
Simeón
C P
CP
Castell-Conesa
J
J
Fonollosa-Pla
V
V
García-del-Castillo
H
H
Vaqué-Rafart
J
J
Vilardell
M
M
Soler-Soler
J
J
D000328:Adult; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D016276:Ventricular Function