Coronary atherosclerosis using computed tomography coronary angiography in patients with systemic sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Impaired coronary artery reserve has previously been demonstrated in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Both micro- and macrovascular factors are probably contributory to the underlying pathogenesis.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the frequency of coronary atherosclerosis in a series of SSc patients by computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA), a less invasive method than conventional coronary angiography, the current gold standard in the detection of coronary atherosclerosis, and to explore its clinical associations.


METHODS
Nineteen consecutive SSc patients [six with diffuse (dSSc) and 13 with limited disease (lSSc)] with disease duration of >or= 3 years were recruited. Coronary calcium score and contrast angiography were examined by CT scan. Conventional cardiovascular factors and inflammatory markers were measured and correlated with CT findings.


RESULTS
The mean+/-SD age of these patients was 52.5+/-12.5 years with median disease duration of 12.5 years. Six (31.6%) patients were found to have coronary artery calcification (calcium score 13-2008). Coronary calcium was detected in one dSSc patient but contrast angiography was not performed because of interference from an in situ implantable cardiac device. Some parts of the coronary arteries were not assessable in two patients who had ectopic cardiac rhythm. Five lSSc patients had calcified plaques causing variable coronary luminal stenosis. All patients were asymptomatic. Patients with abnormal CTCA findings were more likely to be older (p < 0.001) and were less likely to have serum anti-Scl70 antibodies (p = 0.003) than those without, after Bonferroni correction.


CONCLUSIONS
Coronary atherosclerosis is not uncommon in asymptomatic SSc patients. CTCA is a convenient and non-invasive method for studying coronary atherosclerosis.
Mok
M Y
MY
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China. temy@hkucc.hku.hk
Chiu
S S H
SS
Lo
Y
Y
Mak
H K F
HK
Wong
W S
WS
Khong
P L
PL
Lau
C S
CS
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric