Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). A case of recovery of cardiomyopathy after vitamin E treatment.
A 60-year-old woman with systemic sclerosis, systemic hypertension, and chronic renal failure, presented with clinical manifestations of heart failure. An echocardiogram showed a mildly dilated left ventricle and global hypokinesis. A six-month treatment including reduced sodium intake, furosemide, and nifedipine did not change the clinical and instrumental findings. Casually, vitamin E (600 mg daily) was added. After 6 months, clinical manifestations of heart failure were disappeared and the echocardiogram showed a normally-sized left ventricle with normal wall motion.
Morelli
S
S
Istituto de I Clinica Medica, Policlinico Umberto I, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Viale del Policlinico--001621 Rome, Italy.
Sgreccia
A
A
Bernardo
M L
ML
Gurgo Di Castelmenardo
A
A
Petrilli
A C
AC
De Leva
R
R
Nuccio
F
F
Calvieri
S
S
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E