title: Systemic sclerosis and the heart.
abstract: Heart disease, either clinically apparent or silent, is a frequent complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc, scleroderma) and may affect both patients with diffuse cutaneous and limited cutaneous SSc. The availability of more sensitive modalities has led to an increased awareness of scleroderma heart disease, which often involves the pericardium, myocardium, and cardiac conduction system. This awareness of cardiac involvement requires attention and interventions led by internists, cardiologists, and rheumatologists. Although no specific therapy exists for scleroderma heart disease, early recognition of the presence and type of scleroderma heart disease may lead to more effective management of patients with scleroderma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Parks
authors.forename: Marian H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Laura P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Parks
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Silver
mesh_terms: D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000209:etiology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D018754:Ventricular Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Conduction abnormalities; Heart disease; Myocardial fibrosis; Pericarditis; Scleroderma; Systemic sclerosis