title: [CREST syndrome presenting as pulmonary hypertension].
abstract: The authors report the case of a 62-year-old patient complaining of recent onset of disabling breathlessness on exertion, and presenting clinical signs of previously undiagnosed scleroderma. Echocardiography revealed a diagnosis of precapillary pulmonary hypertension (74/14 mmHg) (PHT), with no pulmonary cause revealed by pulmonary ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy or by thoracic fine section computed tomography. The diagnosis of PHT in the context of circumscribed scleroderma was confirmed by x-rays of the hands, capillaroscopy, oesophageal investigations and positive anticentromere antinuclear antibodies. The clinical course was marked by rapid deterioration of the symptoms, requiring treatment with prostacyclin by continuous intravenous infusion. The appearance of PHT in a context of circumscribed scleroderma, usually a relatively benign disease, is a rare, late event, exceptionally revealing the disease, as in this case, and indicating a very unfavourable prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Service de Cardiologie, Hôpital Gilles de Corbeil, 59, bd H. Dunant, 91108 Corbeil-Essonnes.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Somme
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duterque
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verdaguer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lardoux
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D017675:CREST Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D018450:Disease Progression; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D015994:Incidence; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011464:Epoprostenol