title: [Cardiovascular manifestations in systemic scleroderma].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital de Dantec, Service de Cardiologie, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ba
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Dieng
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarr
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Diousse
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Diop
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ly
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hane
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Niang
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Diouf
mesh_terms: 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*