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Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Quantitative Analysis and Characterization of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Murine Aortic Sinus
Published on: December 7, 2013
Angiographically proven coronary artery disease in scleroderma
M R Akram1, C E Handler, M Williams
1Department of Cardiology, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2QG, UK.
Insights
Coronary artery disease (CAD) prevalence in scleroderma (SSc) patients is similar to the general population. This study found no increased risk of CAD in SSc individuals, challenging previous assumptions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rheumatology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Macrovascular disease is hypothesized to be more prevalent in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
- Investigating coronary artery disease (CAD) prevalence in SSc is crucial for understanding associated risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with scleroderma (SSc).
- To compare CAD rates in SSc patients with predicted rates using the Diamond and Forrester (D & F) probability analysis.
Main Methods:
- Coronary angiography was performed on 172 SSc patients with suspected CAD.
- Prevalence was analyzed by age, gender, and symptom type (typical angina, atypical angina, non-anginal pain/breathlessness).
- Standardized prevalence ratios (SPRs) were calculated and compared to a reference population.
Main Results:
- Overall CAD prevalence was 22% (38/172), with 17% in males and 23% in females.
- SPRs for CAD were 47% (typical angina), 50% (atypical angina), and 93% (non-anginal pain/breathlessness) compared to the reference population.
- The study excluded 41 patients outside the D & F analysis age range (30-69 yrs).
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in scleroderma (SSc) patients is not greater than in individuals without SSc.
- Findings suggest that SSc does not confer an increased risk for developing CAD.
Objective:
It has been suggested that macrovascular disease is more common in patients with scleroderma (SSc). We investigated the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in SSc using coronary angiography.
Methods:
Coronary angiography was performed in 172 patients with SSc and suspected CAD to examine the prevalence of significant CAD. The prevalence of CAD was estimated in the whole group and also according to age, gender and type of symptoms (typical angina, atypical angina and non-anginal pain or breathlessness). Standardized prevalence ratios (SPRs) were calculated in each symptomatic group in order to compare CAD rates amongst our observed population with those predicted using the Diamond and Forrester (D & F) probability analysis. This analysis provides an estimate of the probability of CAD based on gender, age and symptoms in subjects aged between 30-69 yrs.
Results:
The observed prevalence of CAD in the whole population was 22% (38/172); 17% (6/36) in males and 23% (32/136) in females. A total of 41 patients were excluded because they were outside the age range for D & F analysis. Compared with the reference population, the SPRs for CAD in the three SSc groups were: 47% (95% CI 21.7-89.9) in the typical angina group (22 patients), 50% (95% CI 13.6-128) in the atypical angina group (22 patients) and 93% (95% CI 49.4-158.8) in the non-anginal pain or breathlessness group (87 patients).
Conclusion:
The prevalence of CAD in patients with SSc is similar and not greater to that expected in individuals without SSc.
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Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
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Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests
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