Physiologic abnormalities of cardiac function in progressive systemic sclerosis with diffuse scleroderma

Journal Article · Wed Jan 18 23:00:00 EST 1984 · N.Engl. J. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM198401193100302· OSTI ID:6541141

Follansbee, W P; Curtiss, E I; Medsger, Jr, T A; Steen, V D; Uretsky, B F; Owens, G R; Rodnan, G P

To investigate cardiopulmonary function in progressive systemic sclerosis with diffuse scleroderma, we studied 26 patients with maximal exercise and redistribution thallium scans, rest and exercise radionuclide ventriculography, pulmonary-function testing, and chest roentgenography. Although only 6 patients had clinical evidence of cardiac involvement, 20 had abnormal thallium scans, including 10 with reversible exercise-induced defects and 18 with fixed defects (8 had both). Seven of the 10 patients who had exercise-induced defects and underwent cardiac catheterization had normal coronary angiograms. Mean resting left ventricular ejection fraction and mean resting right ventricular ejection fraction were lower in patients with post-exercise left ventricular thallium defect scores above the median (59 +/- 13 per cent vs. 69 +/- 6 per cent, and 36 +/- 12 per cent vs. 47 +/- 7 per cent, respectively). The authors conclude that in progressive systemic sclerosis with diffuse scleroderma, abnormalities of myocardial perfusion are common and appear to be due to a disturbance of the myocardial microcirculation. Both right and left ventricular dysfunction appear to be related to this circulatory disturbance, suggesting ischemically mediated injury.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA
• OSTI ID: 6541141
• Journal Information: N.Engl. J. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: N.Engl. J. Med.; (United States) Vol. 310:3; ISSN NEJMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
DISTRIBUTION
ISOTOPES
LUNGS
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SCINTISCANNING
THALLIUM ISOTOPES
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION