Cardiovascular complications of systemic sclerosis: What to look for

Systemic sclerosis, an autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and various internal organs, is associated with cardiovascular abnormalities including pulmonary hypertension, atherosclerosis, right and left ventricular dysfunction, arrhythmias, conduction defects, pericardial disease, and valvular heart disease. Clinicians caring for patients with this disease should regularly screen for cardiac symptoms, and patients with abnormal findings should be managed in conjunction with a cardiologist to optimally modify cardiovascular risks.