Clinical Study of Cardiovascular Involvement in Patients with Connective Tissue Diseases

摘要

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiovascular involvement in patients with connective tissue diseases. Methods: A total of 99 patients (mean age 36.6 ± 10.7 years) with connective tissue diseases were included in the study. Patients were assessed based on their sex, age, disease duration, cardiovascular symptoms, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, antinuclear antibody, and anti-double stranded DNA antibodies. Moreover, cardiac investigations including electrocardiography (ECG), chest X-ray and echocardiography were performed. Results: The study included 90 (90.9%) females and 9 (9.09%) males, aged between 18 and 64 years. Chest pain, palpitation, dyspnoea on exertion, syncope, fatigue, and cardiac murmur were the most cardiac symptoms and signs of patients. ECG abnormalities associated with sinus bradycardia, sinus tachycardia, ST interval and T waves, were found in 27% patients. Chest X-ray with cardiomegaly was found in 10 (10.1%) patients. Echocardiography abnormalities were observed in 32% of patients with pericardial involvement, mitral regurgitation, and diastolic dysfunction. Moreover, the incidence of pericardial effusion was found to be significantly (p higher in patients with connective tissue diseases. Conclusion: The study indicates the correlation between disease activity, disease duration and abnormal echocardiography of cardiovascular involvement in connective tissue diseases.