[Cardiovascular manifestations in systemic scleroderma].
OBJECTIVE
Patients with systemic scleroderma often have latent heart disease which could play an important role in morbidity and mortality. We therefore conducted a prospective study of cardiovascular manifestations in patients with systemic scleroderma.


METHODS
A prospective cross-sectional study included 29 patients with systemic scleroderma who underwent a complete cardiovascular work-up including physical examination, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray and Doppler-echocardiogram from July 1993 to February 1996.


RESULTS
Hypertension was observed in 6 patients (20.7%) and was positively correlated with age (p = 0.007). Raynaud syndrome was also found in 6 patients (20.6%). Heart disease was observed in 14 patients (48.3%) and was positively correlated with age and lack of treatment for scleroderma (p = 0.008). Myocardial disease was the most frequent (11 patients, 37.9%), followed by pericardial disease and valve disease (4 cases each, 13.8%). Rhythm and conduction disorders were found in 2 (6.9%) and 8 (27.6%) of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiovascular manifestations are frequent but often latent in patients with systemic scleroderma. This finding emphasizes the importance of routine cardiovascular work-up in all patients with scleroderma.
Kane
A
A
Hôpital de Dantec, Service de Cardiologie, Dakar, Sénégal.
Kane
A
A
Ba
S A
SA
Barry
F
F
Dieng
M T
MT
Sarr
M
M
Diousse
P
P
Diop
I B
IB
Ly
F
F
Hane
L
L
Niang
S O
SO
Ndiaye
N B
NB
Ndiaye
B
B
Diouf
S M
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000209:etiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications*