Evaluation of cardiac laboratory markers in patients with systemic sclerosis

Objectives: Myocardial involvement is frequent in systemic sclerosis, but symptoms are usually delayed and non-specific, thus often misrecognized. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the early subclinical cardiac involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis by means of non-invasive laboratory cardiac markers. Design and methods: Cardiac troponin T (cTnT), ischemia modified albumin (IMA) and NT-prohormone–brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were measured in 40 female patients with systemic sclerosis and in 40 matched healthy controls. Results: Patients with systemic sclerosis displayed significantly increased concentrations of serum IMA (106 versus 93.5 kunits/l, P < 0.0001) and NT-proBNP (89 versus 37 pg/ml, P < 0.0001), whereas no significant differences could be observed in both IMA and NT-proBNP values in limited versus diffuse pattern of disease. Conclusions: The increased levels of NT-proBNP and IMA could be considered a sign of early myocardial involvement, warranting further heart examination and a regular follow-up.