CARDIOPULMONARY MANIFESTATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTER IN PAKISTAN
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Keywords
Systemic sclerosis, cardio-pulmonary manifestations, diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (DcSS), limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (LcSS).
Abstract
Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare disorder that is characterized by widespread damage in the body due to fibrosis, vascular insult, and autoimmunity. Cardiopulmonary manifestations of this disease are associated with high mortality among patients with SSc.
Objective: This study aims to observe the cardiopulmonary manifestations of SSc patients.
Materials and Methods: A prospective study was carried out at Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan after obtaining ethical approval. A total of 58 male and female patients with systemic sclerosis according to ACR-EULAR criteria for SSc between 1st March 2022 to 28th February 2023 in the hospital were included in this study. Two disease groups were established: diffuse cutaneous SSc (DcSS) and limited cutaneous SSc (LcSS). The patients with SSc-like disorders were excluded. Written informed consent was obtained from the participants and data were collected.
Results: There were 7 (12.1%) male and 51 (87.9%) female patients in the study. The mean age of the patients was 34.55 ± 9.85 years. Out of 58, there were a total of 28 (48.3%) DcSS patients and 30 (51.7%) LcSS patients. Systolic dysfunction was present in 3 (5.17%) patients, and diastolic dysfunction in 8 (13.79%) which was statistically insignificant (p-value > 0.05). Manifestations with statistically significant association (p-value < 0.05) included valvular heart disease, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and pulmonary hypertension. ILD was shown to affect the greatest number of patients (45/58).
Conclusion: Systemic Sclerosis affects heart and lungs adversely. The incidence of the cardiopulmonary manifestations was greater in patients with DcSS as compared to LcSS.
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Sadia Asif
Department of Rheumatology, Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore.
Arooj fatima
Medical Officer, BHU, Adho Raye, Gujranwala.
Muhammad Anas Ahmed
Medical Officer, Department of Cardiology, DHQ, Chiniot.
Hafiza Sidra
Medical officer, University of Health Sciences , Lahore.
Sarmad Zahoor
Post Graduate Resident, Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore.
Hammad Akhtar
Department of Medicine, Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore.