[Differential capillary permeability dependent on statis pressure in the course of diffuse scleroderma (sclerodermia diffusa)].
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In 22 patients with systemic sclerosis (SS) i.e. 16 patients with diffuse scleroderma and 6 patients with CREST syndrome the presence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) was investigated by microcatheter. Manifest PH was found in 3 patients with diffuse scleroderma (19%) and in 3 patients with CREST syndrome (50%). Latent PH was found in 8 patients with diffuse scleroderma (50%) and in 2 patients with CREST syndrome (33%). In our patients the occurrence of PH in CREST syndrome was more frequent than in diffuse scleroderma which is in accordance with the data from the literature. Isolated PH (without simultaneous involvement of pulmonary interstitium) was found in most patients with CREST syndrome (but in 1 case) and in 3 out of 11 patients with diffuse scleroderma.
Myocardial function and perfusion were evaluated in 22 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis with the CREST syndrome using exercise and radionuclide techniques, pulmonary function testing, and chest roentgenography. The results were compared with a similar study of 26 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis with diffuse scleroderma. The prevalence of thallium perfusion abnormalities was similar in the groups with CREST syndrome and diffuse scleroderma, (64 percent versus 77 percent), but the defects were significantly smaller in the CREST syndrome (p less than 0.01). Reperfusion thallium defects in the absence of extramural coronary artery disease were seen in 38 percent of patients with diffuse scleroderma. This finding was not seen in any of the patients with the CREST syndrome. In diffuse scleroderma, abnormalities of both right and left ventricular function were related to larger thallium perfusion defects. In the CREST syndrome, abnormalities of left ventricular function were minor, were seen only during exercise, and were unrelated to thallium perfusion defects. Abnormal resting right ventricular function was seen in 36 percent of the patients with the CREST syndrome and was associated with an isolated decrease in diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide. It is concluded that the cardiac manifestations of the CREST syndrome are distinct from those found in diffuse scleroderma. Unlike diffuse scleroderma, abnormalities of left ventricular function in the CREST syndrome are minor and are unrelated to abnormalities of coronary perfusion. Right ventricular dysfunction in the CREST syndrome appears to be primarily related to pulmonary vascular disease.
More than 300 sera from patients with a connective tissue disease were analyzed with the immunoblotting technique. The presence of autoantibodies against an 86,000-mol wt marker antigen for diffuse scleroderma (Scl-86) was found in 14 out of 33 patients with scleroderma. The presence of anti-Scl-86 antibodies seemed to correlate with the diagnosis of diffuse scleroderma since they were found in 13 out of 22 diffuse scleroderma patients and in only one out of 11 patients with limited scleroderma. All scleroderma sera (33 patients' sera and 13 reference sera) were also tested for the presence of anti-Scl-70 antibodies. It was found that all anti-Scl-70 positive sera (n = 25) contained anti-Scl-86 antibody as well, suggesting a relationship between these two antigens. However, the Scl-86 antigen was shown to be an extremely insoluble nonchromosomal protein, resistant to boiling in sodium dodecyl sulfate. This contrasts with the Scl-70 antigen, which has been described as a thermolabile, soluble antigen present in the chromatin fraction. Together, our results are consistent with the idea that Scl-70 is a degradation product of Scl-86. The Scl-86 antigen is present in freshly prepared rabbit thymus, spleen, and liver nuclei as well as in nuclei from various cultured cell lines, but is not detectable in extractable nuclear antigen from rabbit thymus. In a limited retrospective study, the anti-Scl-86 antibodies were found in two sera from patients with Raynaud's phenomenon before the development of diffuse scleroderma. Therefore, it is possible that screening of patients' serum for this antibody might predict the development of diffuse scleroderma.
Internal organ function, biochemical, and immunological variables were assessed in 100 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), 37 with diffuse scleroderma and 63 with the CREST syndrome. The frequency of oesophageal symptoms and dysmotility did not differ between the two subsets, but patients with diffuse scleroderma had more pronounced motility disturbances. Calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, and telangiectasia were equally frequent in the two groups. Vital capacity, total lung capacity, and static lung compliance were lower among patients with diffuse scleroderma (p less than 0.001), who also had a higher frequency of lung fibrosis (p less than 0.001) and cardiomegaly (p less than 0.01). Sixty eight per cent of the patients with diffuse scleroderma and 62% of those with the CREST syndrome had a positive antinuclear antibody test, which was associated with oesophageal hypomotility (p less than 0.001), fat malabsorption (p less than 0.01) and pulmonary dysfunction (p less than 0.05). Thus, the severity of organ manifestations varied not only with the form of PSS, but also with the absence/presence of antinuclear antibody. This study shows that the term 'CREST syndrome' could be replaced by 'limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis'.
A case of acute diffuse scleroderma without contemporaneous visceral involvement is described. Antibodies to endothelial cells have been found in the skin.
Numbers of mast cells were quantitated in the lesions of diffuse scleroderma and morphea. Mast cells increased and then decreased in number in the papillary dermis of diffuse scleroderma. No significant change of mast cell numbers was noted in the reticular dermis. Mast cells increased in the papillary dermis with fine collagen bundles (grade 2 skin of scleroderma) and decreased in the papillary dermis with homogeneous collagen bundles (grade 3 skin of scleroderma). The total number of cells increased in the papillary dermis of grade 1 and 2 skin of scleroderma and decreased in the grade 3 skin of scleroderma. In morphea a reduced number of mast cells was noted in grade 3 lesions. It is suggested that mast cells play an important role in fibrotic process of scleroderma skin.
To investigate cardiopulmonary function in progressive systemic sclerosis with diffuse scleroderma, we studied 26 patients with maximal exercise and redistribution thallium scans, rest and exercise radionuclide ventriculography, pulmonary-function testing, and chest roentgenography. Although only 6 patients had clinical evidence of cardiac involvement, 20 had abnormal thallium scans, including 10 with reversible exercise-induced defects and 18 with fixed defects (8 had both). Seven of the 10 patients who had exercise-induced defects and underwent cardiac catheterization had normal coronary angiograms. Mean resting left ventricular ejection fraction and mean resting right ventricular ejection fraction were lower in patients with post-exercise left ventricular thallium defect scores above the median (59 +/- 13 per cent vs. 69 +/- 6 per cent [P less than 0.025], and 36 +/- 12 per cent vs. 47 +/- 7 per cent [P less than 0.025], respectively). We conclude that in progressive systemic sclerosis with diffuse scleroderma, abnormalities of myocardial perfusion are common and appear to be due to a disturbance of the myocardial microcirculation. Both right and left ventricular dysfunction appear to be related to this circulatory disturbance, suggesting ischemically mediated injury.
The pulmonary function and chest roentgenograms were evaluated in 88 patients with the CREST syndrome variant of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS or scleroderma). Seventy-two percent of the patients had abnormal pulmonary function. An isolated decrease in diffusing capacity was the most common abnormality noted, followed by restrictive abnormalities and airway obstruction. Chest roentgenograms revealed interstitial infiltrates consistent with pulmonary fibrosis in 33 percent. When compared to a contemporaneous group of 77 patients with PSS and diffuse scleroderma, patients with the CREST syndrome had similar abnormalities on pulmonary function testing and chest roentgenogram. However, patients with the CREST syndrome had a lower mean diffusing capacity despite a higher mean vital capacity; this combination of findings suggests primary pulmonary vascular disease. Calcified granulomata were identified significantly more often in PSS-CREST patients, while superior rib notching occurred exclusively in patients with PSS and diffuse scleroderma. The CREST variant of PSS is associated with frequent roentgenographic and pulmonary function abnormalities similar to those seen in PSS with diffuse scleroderma.
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OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) followed by mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in the treatment of diffuse scleroderma. METHODS: A pilot study of 13 patients with recent-onset diffuse scleroderma was carried out. Patients received ATG for 5 days, followed by MMF for 12 months. We recorded adverse events, scleroderma skin score, hand contractures, EuroQol score, scleroderma functional assessment, pulmonary function studies, echocardiogram and plasma creatinine concentration. RESULTS: Mean skin score decreased during the study from 28 at baseline to 17 after 12 months of MMF (P<0.01). Hand contractures worsened during the study. Mean measurements of systemic disease remained stable. One patient died after a scleroderma renal crisis. Five patients developed serum sickness after ATG treatment, but this was controlled by corticosteroid therapy. MMF therapy was well tolerated. CONCLUSION: ATG and MMF appear safe in scleroderma. The improvement in skin score and the apparent stability of systemic disease during the study period suggest that controlled studies of these agents are justified.
A case of severe hypertension and acute renal failure developing in a 56 year old woman affected by diffuse scleroderma is reported. The patient was treated by peritoneal dialysis, antihypertensive agents and plasma infusions, which led to the correction of arterial hypertension and partial recovery of renal function. This report emphasizes the possibility that the correction of malignant hypertension may prevent progressive renal falure in some patients affected by diffuse scleroderma.
A 61 year old female patient with diffuse scleroderma, complicated by carpal tunnel syndrome, is reported. The coexistence of carpal tunnel syndrome with dermatomyositis and lupus erythematodes is reviewed.
Pseudohypertension is the artifactual elevation of blood pressure that occurs secondary to noncompressible blood vessels. It has been described in patients with uremia, diabetes mellitus, and severe atherosclerosis. If unrecognized, the condition may lead to inappropriate and potentially harmful therapy. We report a case of pseudohypertension in a 65-year-old man with diffuse scleroderma. His blood pressure as assessed by conventional sphygmomanometry was at least 240/135 to 145 mm Hg. Intra-arterial blood pressure was found to be 107/52 mm Hg. The severe rise in blood pressure as measured by sphygmomanometry led to the concern of scleroderma renal crisis and potentially harmful therapy. Intra-arterial pressure monitoring confirmed the presence of pseudohypertension, however. This is the first reported case of pseudohypertension in a patient with diffuse scleroderma.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: To characterize the prevalence of undiagnosed pulmonary hypertension in patients with limited and diffuse scleroderma. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study. SETTING: University-based outpatient clinic. PATIENTS: Thirty-four consecutive patients with limited (n = 29) or diffuse (n = 5) scleroderma but without the clinical diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: All patients had 12-lead ECGs and two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiograms. The pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PAs) was calculated as the sum of the Doppler transtricuspid pressure gradient and the right atrial pressure as estimated by the caval respiratory index. Thirty-three patients (97%) had adequate spectral signals of tricuspid regurgitation. The velocity of tricuspid regurgitation ranged from 1.6 to 4.5 m/s. The calculated PAs ranged from 15 to 95 (mean +/- SD = 30 +/- 14 mm Hg). Twelve patients (35% of the total cohort) had pulmonary hypertension defined as PAs of 30 mm Hg or greater. CONCLUSIONS: Undiagnosed elevation of PAs is common in patients with scleroderma. Noninvasive assessment of PAs can be performed accurately in most patients independent of clinical signs of pulmonary hypertension. If successful treatment strategies are identified, it may be possible to identify patients early in the development of pulmonary hypertension and intervene before significant end-organ damage occurs.
OBJECTIVE: Autonomic dysfunction has been described in scleroderma. Heart rate variability gives information about sympathetic-parasympathetic autonomic balance, therefore it can provide insight into which division of the system is most affected. Our purpose was to determine whether the neural control of heart rate in patients with CREST syndrome differed from that in patients with diffuse scleroderma. Since low heart rate variability in some diseases is associated with an increased risk for malignant ventricular arrhythmias, assessment of patients with scleroderma with this technique might establish a marker of adverse outcome. METHODS: A short time analysis of heart rate variability was performed in 9 patients with diffuse scleroderma, 8 with CREST and 17 age/sex matched healthy controls. RESULTS: An abnormal heart rate variability was found in patients with CREST: There was a reduced standard deviation of the mean of beat-to-beat R-R intervals and a low power spectrum density in both the 0.05 to 0.15 Hz band and the 0.15 to 0.35 Hz band, a significant reduction in their total power (p < 0.05), a reduction in the high frequency to total power ratio (p < 0.05), and a reduction in the ratio between high and low frequency components of their spectrum. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that patients with CREST have a decreased parasympathetic control of heart rate, significantly different from those with diffuse disease. Whether this finding is pertinent to the differences between these subsets of patients remains to be established.