Cardiac magnetic resonance in systemic sclerosis patients with cardiac symptoms

OBJECTIVE: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by widespread vascular lesions and skin and internal organs fibrosis, including the heart; all cardiac layers, endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium, may be involved. We report the relevance of cardiac MRI findings in scleroderma patients with cardiac symptoms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: 50 patients, all fulfilling the ACR SSc criteria (19 with limited and 31 with diffused skin involvement) were evaluated using a 1.5T MR scanner. Images were acquired before and after contrast medium administration; the exams were considered positive with one or more of these findings: enlarged volumes, reduced EF, regional kinetic anomalies, edema, DE or pericardial effusion.

RESULTS: 40 patients (80%) had one or more cardiac abnormalities: 5 patients had myocardial edema; 2 an increased interventricular septum thickness; 22 dilated ventricles or reduced EF; 12 an abnormal regional ventricular motion (2 of these with akinetic segments); 17 a delayed enhancement with different patterns, all without coronary distribution; 22 a pericardial effusion

CONCLUSIONS: Pathologic findings were documented in 80% of the cases confirming a high occurrence of abnormal MR data. Myocardial involvement in systemic sclerosis can be assumed by the presence of multiple pathologic MRI findings. CMR seems to be a valuable tool to identify and assess the presence of cardiac involvement.

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