Prevalence of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Korean Adult Patients with Systemic Sclerosis: Result of a Pilot Echocardiographic Screening Study

摘要

BackgroundPulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Early detection and prompt treatment of PAH associated with SSc (SSc-PAH) result in better prognosis. We conducted echocardiographic study to presume the prevalence of PAH in Korean adult SSc patients and to diagnose SSc-PAH in their early stages with right heart catheterization (RHC).