Cardiopulmonary Manifestations of Progressive Systemic Sclerosis

Abstract

Sixteen patients with progressive systemic sclerosis were evaluated for cardiopulmonary manifestations of their disease and for serologic immune abnormalities. Twenty‐five percent of patients had abnormal echocardiograms, and 81% had a significant reduction in pulmonary function by spirometry. Circulating immune complexes (IC) were detected in 44% of patients by using a fluorescent Raji cell assay, and these patients were more likely to have an abnormal echocardiogram (P < 0.02). Seventy‐five percent of the patients had fluorescent antinuclear antibodies (FANA) and these patients were more likely to have pulmonary disease (p < 0.01).