Description

A patient with systemic sclerosis may have subclinical cardiac involvement. Dumitru et al reported several markers that may be positive in the patient. The authors are from multiple institutions in the UK and Poland.


Patient selection: systemic sclerosis with a negative history of cardiovascular disease and pulmonary arterial hypertension

 

Pathophysiology of heart involvement: microvasculopathy

 

Laboratory markers of subclinical heart involvement:

(1) elevated high-sensitivity serum troponin concentration

(2) elevated serum NT-proBNP concentration

 

Imaging markers:

(1) late gadolinium enhancement consistent with myocardial fibrosis, which may be focal or diffuse

(2) lower myocardial perfusion reserve

 

A patient with heart involvement tends to have:

(1) a higher skin score

(2) digital ulcers


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