Cardiopulmonary Manifestations of Progressive Systemic Sclerosis

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Abstract
Sixteen patients with progressive systemic sclerosis were evaluated for cardiopulmonary manifestations of their disease and for serologic immune abnormalities. Twenty‐five percent of patients had abnormal echocardiograms, and 81% had a significant reduction in pulmonary function by spirometry. Circulating immune complexes (IC) were detected in 44% of patients by using a fluorescent Raji cell assay, and these patients were more likely to have an abnormal echocardiogram (P < 0.02). Seventy‐five percent of the patients had fluorescent antinuclear antibodies (FANA) and these patients were more likely to have pulmonary disease (p < 0.01).