Echocardiography and external respiration function studies identified pulmonary hypertension in 33% of patients with systemic scleroderma.
Observational (n=206)
No
What is the frequency and what are the clinical features of pulmonary hypertension in patients with systemic scleroderma?
Echocardiography is a highly informative screening tool for pulmonary hypertension, which affects approximately one-third of patients with systemic scleroderma.
Aim. To evaluate the frequency of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with systemic scleroderma (SSD) and elucidate clinical features of SSD with and without concomitant PH. Materials and methods. The study included 206 patients (189 women and 17 men) with SSD treated in Rheumatological Department, Saratov Regional Hospital. Clinical features, results of echocardiography and external respiration function (ERF) studies were analyzed in SSD patients with and without concomitant PH. Results. PH was documented in 33% of the patients. Their clinical condition, changes in left and right hear as well as ERF were elucidated. Conclusion. The study confirmed the high informative value of echocardiography used to evaluate ERF in patients with SSD and the possibility to apply this method for screening PH in SSD patients. The risk factors of PH in SSD patients include advanced age, apnoea, disturbed ERF, and sclerodactylia.
Кароли et al. (Sun,) conducted a observational in Systemic scleroderma (n=206). Echocardiography and external respiration function (ERF) studies vs. Patients without pulmonary hypertension was evaluated on Frequency of pulmonary hypertension. Echocardiography and external respiration function studies identified pulmonary hypertension in 33% of patients with systemic scleroderma.