Abstract
Abstract
Background
Myocardial involvement (MI) is the primary cause of death in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). We analyzed patients with SSc and MI to identify their characteristics and outcome.
Method
We retrospectively collected data from SSc patients with MI admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2012 and May 2021. SSc patients without MI were randomly selected as controls after matching age and gender at a ratio of 1:3.
Results
In total, 21 SSc patients (17 females) with MI were enrolled. The mean age at SSc onset was 42.3 ± 15.1 years old. Compared with controls, myositis (42.9% vs. 14.3%, P = 0.014) and elevation of CK (33.3% vs. 4.8%, P = 0.002) were more common in patients with MI. Of the 7 patients without cardiovascular symptoms, 3 /5 showed elevations in cardiac troponin-I (cTnI), 6 showed elevations of N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Eleven patients were followed up for a median period of 15.5 months and four patients developed newly occurring left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50%.
Conclusion
One third of SSc patients with MI were asymptomatic. Regular monitoring of CTnI, NT-proBNP and echocardiography is helpful for the diagnosis of MI during the early stages. Its prognosis is poor.
Funder
Chinese National Key Technology R&D Program Ministry of Science and Technology
CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences
Beijing Municipal Office of Philosophy and Social Science Planning
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Pharmacology (medical),Genetics (clinical),General Medicine