Echocardiographic alterations in systemic sclerosis: A longitudinal study

Objective To investigate the evolution of cardiac alterations in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods Echocardiographic and echo-Doppler findings from 77 unselected SSc patients were analyzed at the first clinical observation and after a follow-up period of 65 ± 36 months. Data were compared with those obtained from 45 normal subjects matched for age and sex. Results Baseline left ventricular (LV) systolic function was normal in all patients and controls while LV diastolic dysfunction (expressed by an inverted E/A ratio which represents early and late filling of the LV during atrial contraction) was present in 23 patients and in 1 control ( P Conclusions Our data confirm the significant prevalence of LV diastolic dysfunction in SSc patients and the role of primary myocardial involvement. The long-term follow-up demonstrates that LV filling dysfunction is progressive and precedes the occurrence of LV remodeling.