Clinical and histopathological features of patients with systemic sclerosis undergoing endomyocardial biopsy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with a variable phenotype including heart failure, arrhythmias and pulmonary hypertension. The aim of the present study was to evaluate clinical characteristics, histopathological findings and outcome of patients with SSc and a clinical phenotype suggesting cardiac involvement.

Methods and results

25 patients with SSc and clinical signs of cardiac involvement were included between June 2007 and December 2010. They underwent routine clinical work-up including laboratory testing, echocardiography, left and right heart catheterization, holter recordings and endomyocardial biopsy. Primary endpoint (EP) was defined as the combination of cardiovascular death, arrhythmic endpoints (defined as appropriate disch

SUBMITTER: Mueller KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4428754 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature