The British Journal of Rheumatology, Vol 37, 1320-1323, Copyright © 1998 by British Society for Rheumatology
AE Thompson and JE Pope
OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of pericardial and pleural effusions
in scleroderma. METHODS: Using a case-control format, patients with
scleroderma and no known cardiac disease were recruited. Echocardiograms
and chest radiographs were performed. Age- and gender- matched controls had
echocardiograms performed which were read by a cardiologist, blinded to the
diagnosis. The medical records of 60 other scleroderma patients were also
reviewed. RESULTS: Thirty-seven scleroderma subjects were recruited, of
whom 18 had diffuse disease. Only eight subjects with diffuse disease and
five with limited scleroderma had normal echocardiograms compared to 20 of
37 controls (P < 0.1). Two had pericardial effusions, both with diffuse
scleroderma, and none of the controls had effusions present. Pulmonary
hypertension occurred in three with diffuse disease and no controls. A
chart review of a further 60 patients with scleroderma was performed.
Pleural effusions were identified in 7% (4/58) of the cohort of scleroderma
patients and were more frequent in diffuse disease (10%). A total of 17%
(4/23) of diffuse and 4% (1/23) of limited scleroderma patients had
evidence of pericardial effusions. CONCLUSIONS: Pericardial effusions do
occur in scleroderma without evidence of clinical cardiac dysfunction and
are more common in diffuse scleroderma. Pleural effusions in scleroderma
occur less frequently, in 70%.
ORIGINAL PAPERS
A study of the frequency of pericardial and pleural effusions in scleroderma
Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
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