Early Detection of Cardiac Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis Assessed by Tissue-Doppler Echocardiography: Relationship with Neurohormonal Activation and Endothelial Dysfunction

Abstract

Depressed cardiac function is common, even in asymptomatic patients with SSc. NT-proBNP and ADMA are significantly correlated with echocardiographic abnormalities, providing a potent link for cardiac function, neuroendocrine derangement, and endothelial dysfunction in patients with SSc who have cardiac disease.