| Cardiac (Heart) Involvement |
| This page was written by Shelley Ensz, and has not yet been medically edited. See Disclaimer. |
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| Research about Scleroderma Cardiac (Heart) Involvement |
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| Antibodies |
| Hypothyroidism Contributes to Increased Triglyceride Levels Among Patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). In a cohort of 49 patients with diffuse SSc clinical and laboratory features of hypothyroidism were observed in 27% of the patients and increased triglyceride levels in more than 55%. It is estimated that about half of SSc patients experience overt or latent hypothyroidism. J. Rheumatol 2006 April;33:827. Correspondence. Full Text. (Also see: Thyroid Disease and Lipoprotein[a] and Thrombotic Complications) |
| Anti-lipoprotein lipase antibody in systemic sclerosis: association with elevated serum triglyceride concentrations. The presence of IgG anti-LPL antibody was associated with elevated serum triglyceride levels, greater extent of skin fibrosis, and more frequent presence of lung fibrosis, heart involvement, and anti-topoisomerase I antibodies. Our results suggest that anti-LPL autoantibody contributes to elevated serum triglyceride levels by inhibiting LPL enzyme activity in patients with SSc. J Rheumatol. 2005 Apr;32(4):629-36. (Also see: Antibodies, Skin Fibrosis and Pulmonary Fibrosis) |
| Autoantibodies to Beta Adrenoreceptors in Patients with Juvenile Scleroderma. Further follow up investigations are necessary to find out whether ABâ-1 could serve as an early predictor of scleroderma cardiac lesions in the pre-clinical stage of the disease. M. K. Osminina. THU0095 EULAR 2004. (Also see: Antibodies and Juvenile Scleroderma) |
| Autoimmunity and Heart Disease |
| Comparison of Survival Among Patients With Connective Tissue Disease and Cardiomyopathy (Systemic Sclerosis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Undifferentiated Disease-UCTD). The diagnosis of cardiomyopathy and either undifferentiated CTD or systemic sclerosis appears to be a poor prognostic indicator compared with the diagnosis of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and cardiomyopathy have a similar prognosis to those with idiopathic DCM. Finally, the presence of myocarditis does not alter the survival of patients with CTD and cardiomyopathy. (Sciene Direct) The American Journal of Cardiology Volume 100, Issue 3, 1 August 2007, Pages 513-517. (Also see: UCTD and Lupus ) |
| Swedish team find gene with link to major diseases. Scientists have identified a gene which links autoimmune diseases with cardiovascular diseases. The gene variant when it is present in the body, leads to a reduction in the production of a number of immune defence proteins. News-Medical.Net 04/12/05. (Also see: Causes of Scleroderma: Genetics) |
| Strong Association Found Between Fibrotic Lung Disorders And Coronary Artery Disease. The odds ratio for increased prevalence of CAD was 2.18 for fibrotic lung diseases compared with non-fibrotic diseases, after investigators adjusted for traditional risk factors. Doctor's Guide. 03/10/04. Archives of Internal Medicine 2004;164:551-556. (Also see: Pulmonary Fibrosis) |
| Is cardiomyopathy an autoimmune disease? It may be practical in the future to separate "autoimmune cardiomyopathy" from other "idiopathic" Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). PubMed. Keio J Med 2002 Dec;51(4):208-12. |
| Media Stories on Autoimmunity and Heart Disease Research |
| Marital rows harm heart health. Marital rows do not just produce harsh words and hot air - they can harden your arteries too, a study suggests. Arterial disease in women was linked to either partner demonstrating hostility, but in men it was linked to either showing controlling behaviour. BBC News. 03-04-06. |
| Women take heart. Some health conditions that may increase a woman's risk of heart disease include autoimmune disorders, infections of the heart muscle and lining, and kidney failure. Heart disease may be prevented by not smoking and by controlling high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol. News 8 Austin. 05/24/04. |
| Case Studies of Cardiac Involvement in Scleroderma |
| Atypical hemodynamic manifestations of cardiac tamponade. These atypical cardiac tamponade cases include: A patient with systemic sclerosis without hypotension; and a patient with pulmonary hypertension lacking right heart collapse on echocardiography. Recognition of these atypical clinical and hemodynamic manifestations of cardiac tamponade will avoid undue delay in the treatment. PubMed. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2004 Oct 25;63(3):339-345. |
| Severe cardiac disease in scleroderma. A 36 year-old female with a diagnosis of systemic sclerosis suffered from an acute episode of skeletal myositis and refractory heart failure with cardiogenic shock. There are very few reported cases of severe heart failure associated to systemic sclerosis. PubMed. Medicina (B Aires). 2004;64(5):442-4. |
| Left atrial dissection after double valve replacement. A 63-year-old woman with systemic sclerosis underwent double valve replacement. The possible causes of the dissection were thought to be shear forces against the tissue between the two prostheses and tissue fragility due to systemic sclerosis and corticosteroid therapy. PubMed. Ann Thorac Surg 2003 Feb;75(2):584-6. |
| Causes of Heart Disease in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases |
| Autonomic nerve function in patients with systemic scleroderma using heart rate variability analysis. The results suggest that in SSc patients, sympathetic nerve activity was increased and parasympathetic nerve activity was decreased throughout the day. PubMed. Rinsho Byori. 2006 Apr;54(4):325-8. (Also see: Digestive Involvement) |
| MS Susceptibility: Scientists Identify the Gene Responsible. Researchers in Sweden found a common risk factor for not only MS, but also ailments like heart disease and rheumatism. This risk factor is a gene that links autoimmune diseases like MS to cardiovascular diseases, the first time such a gene has been identified, say the scientists. MS Neighborhood. 06/10/05. (Also see: Multiple Sclerosis) |
| Lipoprotein profile in limited systemic sclerosis. Our data suggest that LcSSc patients, particularly those who are ACA positive, have an adverse lipid profile characterized by low HDL levels, a known independent risk for CAD in women. The relevance of this finding for the development of atherosclerosis in this disease must be confirmed by epidemiological studies. PubMed. Rheumatol Int. 2005 Feb 8. |
| Endothelial activation, endothelial dysfunction and premature atherosclerosis in systemic autoimmune diseases. It is supposed that chronic EC (endothelial cell) dysfunction, as present in patients with systemic autoimmune disorders, contributes to the development of premature atherosclerosis and results in an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease. PubMed. Neth J Med. 2003 Sep;61(9):273-7. |
