Diffuse myocardial fibrosis precedes subclinical functional myocardial impairment and provides prognostic information in systemic sclerosis

Abstract

Subclinical myocardial involvement first manifests as diffuse myocardial fibrosis identified by the expansion of ECV and increased native T1 in VEDOSS patients while subtle functional impairment only occurs in established SSc. Native T1 and GLS have prognostic value for all-cause mortality in SSc patients.