Open AccessA Semiquantitative measure of cardiac involvement that improves prediction of prognosis in systemic sclerosis
Author(s) -
Clements Philip J.,
Lachenbruch Peter A.,
Furst Daniel E.,
Paulus Harold E.,
Sterz Mildred G.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780341105
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , electrocardiography , pericardial effusion , prospective cohort study
Cardiac involvement, assessed yearly by a semiquantitative cardiac scoring technique (the sum of 2 variables, scored 0 or 1 for left axis deviation, and 0 or 2 for moderate‐large pericardial effusion) and outcome at 10 years were evaluated in 90 systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients enrolled in a 3‐year prospective drug trial. Higher cardiac scores were associated with decreased survival. The inverse relationship of survival with cardiac score was more significant than the relationship between survival and any of the cardiopulmonary variables individually ( P < 0.3). Predicted 6‐year survival was 79% in patients with a cardiac score of 0, 51% in those with a score of 1, 15% in those with a score of 2, and 0% in those with a score of 3. We conclude that a simple 2‐variable weighted cardiac score, derived from routine electrocardiography and echocardiography, is a useful predictor of survival in patients with SSc, and we propose that the application of this cardiac score be tested in other populations of SSc patients.