Systemic Sclerosis and the Heart

Clinical and laboratory predictions of myocardial inflammation as detected by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with systemic sclerosis: A pilot study

“…Cardiac involvement in SSc is classified into primary and secondary cardiac involvement, which is related to pulmonary artery hypertension or scleroderma renal crisis. Primary cardiac involvement is common in SSc and can affect the pericardium, vascular, conducting system, and myocardium . According to autopsies, the hallmark of myocardial involvement in SSc is patchy myocardial fibrosis, which is detected at the late stage of the disease during which there is no specific treatment that can improve cardiac outcome .…”

Autoimmune myocarditis in systemic sclerosis: an unusual form of scleroderma heart disease presentation

“…Conduction system alterations are present in about 20% of patients,15 and right bundle branch block has been recently described to be an independent predictor of mortality in this group 16…”

“…Cardiac conduction system was also involved in this patient, and she had electrocardiographic evidence of intraventricular conduction disturbance with bifascicular block pattern. Conduction system alterations are present in about 20% of patients, 15 and right bundle branch block has been recently described to be an independent predictor of mortality in this group. 16 Prognosis of SSc patients with CI seems worse, particularly when it becomes clinically evident.…”

Carotid Intima Media Thickness in Systemic Sclerosis Patients: Results From a Single Centre, Cross Sectional, Case-Control Study

“…Significant cardiovascular involvement in SSc indicates a poor prognosis [13]. While there is well established data regarding atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk factors in RA and SLE [2,14], there is growing evidence that accelerated atherosclerosis occurs in SSc.…”