Abstract

Background: The incidence of cardiac anomalies in patients with connective tissue disorders (CTD) and related risk factors are poorly understood in modern India.
Methods: 35 consecutive CTD patients who presented to our outpatient department and had no substantial cardiovascular risk factors at baseline were prospectively tracked. We also kept track of data from controls who were matched for age and gender. Following normal investigations, echocardiography and a 12-lead electrocardiogram were performed on all patients and controls.
Results: 19 (54.3%) patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 12 (34.3%) patients with systemic sclerosis, 2 (5.7%) patients with mixed CTD, and one (2.9%) patient with overlap syndrome and dermatomyositis made up the CTD group. 71.4 percent of CTD patients had cardiovascular involvement on echocardiography, despite the fact that the majority of them had no cardiac symptoms. Three (8.6%) CTD patients showed overt left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction, whereas 13 (37.1%) showed subclinical LV systolic dysfunction. 11.4 percent (n = 4) of the patients had LV diastolic dysfunction. Rv systolic dysfunction affected 20% of the individuals (n = 7). Forty percent (n = 14) of CTD patients had pulmonary hypertension.
Conclusion: In the current investigation, roughly one-third of CTD patients had subclinical LV systolic dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. In order to guarantee prompt diagnosis and treatment for CTD, it is essential to test for certain abnormalities.