CARDIAC INVOLVEMENT IN SYSTEMIC-SCLEROSIS

Objective. To assess the incidence and extent of cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with no apparent cardiac symptoms. Methods. Surface electrocardiography, ambulatory electrocardiography, radionuclide ventriculography, myocardial scintigraphy, and echocardiography were performed in 18 patients. Results. These studies demonstrated ventricular tachycardia in 1 patient, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in 5, supraventricular tachycardia in 6, decreased left ventricular ejection fraction in 2, decreased right ventricular ejection fraction in 8, and stress-induced reversible myocardial perfusion abnormalities in 6. Conclusion. These observations demonstrate a high rate of cardiac abnormalities in SSc patients without cardiac symptoms.