ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiovascular involvement in patients
with connective tissue diseases. Methods: A total of 99 patients (mean age
36.6 ± 10.7 years) with connective tissue diseases were included in the study. Patients
were assessed based on their sex, age, disease duration, cardiovascular symptoms,
erythrocyte sedimentation rate, antinuclear antibody, and anti-double stranded DNA
antibodies. Moreover, cardiac investigations including electrocardiography (ECG),
chest X-ray and echocardiography were performed. Results: The study included
90 (90.9%) females and 9 (9.09%) males, aged between 18 and 64 years. Chest pain,
palpitation, dyspnoea on exertion, syncope, fatigue, and cardiac murmur were the
most cardiac symptoms and signs of patients. ECG abnormalities associated with sinus
bradycardia, sinus tachycardia, ST interval and T waves, were found in 27% patients. Chest X-ray with cardiomegaly was found in
10 (10.1%) patients. Echocardiography abnormalities were observed in 32% of patients
with pericardial involvement, mitral regurgitation, and diastolic dysfunction.
Moreover, the incidence of pericardial effusion was found to be significantly (p < 0.05) higher in
patients with connective tissue diseases. Conclusion: The study indicates the correlation between disease activity, disease
duration and abnormal echocardiography of cardiovascular involvement in connective
tissue diseases.