STUDY ON CARDIAC INVOLVEMENT IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS

BACKGROUND Systemic sclerosis is a generalised disorder of connective tissue characterised by diffuse vascular lesions, fibrosis of skin and major organ systems involvement including cardiac, pulmonary and gastrointestinal system. It also involves cardiac valves, pericardium, myocardium and coronary vessels. The aim of this descriptive study is to assess the cardiac involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS It was a descriptive study. 25 patients of systemic sclerosis were studied. Both diffuse systemic sclerosis and limited systemic sclerosis patients were included in this study. Detailed clinical examination, basic blood investigations, immunological tests, ECG, x-ray chest, echocardiography, HRCT chest and upper gastrointestinal scopy were done in all patients. RESULTS 3 patients (12%) with LcSS had ECG abnormalities. One patient with DcSS (4%) had ECG abnormality. The ECG abnormalities were sinus tachycardia, VPC (1 pt), T-wave inversion in inferior leads (1 pt) and LAHB with left axis deviation (1 pt). Among the total 25 patients, 6 patients (24%) had abnormalities in echocardiography. 4 patients with LcSS and remaining 2 (34%) with DcSS. The common echo abnormalities were pulmonary hypertension with dilatation of right atrium and right ventricle (84%). Pulmonary hypertension was secondary to interstitial lung diseases. CONCLUSION In this study, we found that 12% of LcSS had ECG abnormalities. Echo abnormality was seen in 66% of LcSS and 34% of DcSS. In our study, we found that cardiac rhythm disturbances occurred even in asymptomatic individuals.