Preliminary study of cardiovascular manifestations and cardiac severity scale in 58 patients with systemic sclerosis in Iran using the Medsger scale

Background: Cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is more prevalent than previously thought. In this study, the frequency and severity of cardiovascular involvement were assessed in SSc patients referred to Firouzgar Hospital. Methods: Fifty-eight patients with SSc, selected from the data bank of SSc patients, were reviewed for the frequency and severity of 8 organ involvements in this case series. The preliminary severity scale, published by international SSc study groups, was employed for the determination of the severity grade in the cardiovascular system. In the cardiac scoring scale, grade 0 represents normal heart (no cardiac involvement), grade 1 denotes mild involvement electrocardiography (ECG) conduction defect and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 45-49%), grade 2 signifies moderate involvement (arrhythmia, LVEF = 40-44%), grade 3 indicates severe involvement (LVEF