CARDIOVASCULAR MANIFESTATIONS IN SCLERODE RMA

OBJECTIVES: 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 manifes tations in patients with systemic scleroderma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study included 29 patients with systemic scleroderma who underwent a complete cardiovascular woork-up including physical examination, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray and Doppler-echo cardiogram from July 1993 to February 1996. RESULTS: Hypertension was observed in 6 patients (20.7%) and was positively corieiated with age (p = 0.007). Raynaud syndrome was also found in 6 patients (20.6%). He art disease was observed in 14 patients (48.3%) and was positively cor related with age and lack of treatment for scleroderma (p = 0.008). My ocardial 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. CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular manifestations are frequent but o ften latent in patients with systemic scleroderma. This finding emphas izes the importance of routine cardiovascular work-up in all patients with scleroderma.