Cardiac calcium score in systemic sclerosis

Cardiac coronary Ca score (CCS), and extra coronary Ca score (ECCS) estimation in asymptomatic systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and their relation to different disease and patients' variables. The CCS and ECCS were estimated in asymptomatic 20 SSc patients compared to 20 age and sex-matched healthy control using non-contrast cardiac computed tomography. All were applied for cardiac history taking, examination, echocardiography, body mass index (BMI), complete blood picture, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and lipid profile estimation. The SSc patients were 11 females and 9 males with a mean age of (42.55 ± 9.145) and mean disease duration (12.9 ± 6.774). CCS was reported in 9 (45%) SSc cases and 2 (10%) of the control; (p = 0.013) and was significantly greater in SSc patients (58.4 ± 175.443) than in the control group (0.7 ± 2.25); (p = 0.01). The ECCS was significantly higher in SSc cases (194.45 ± 586.511) than control group (2.8 ± 7.8); (p = 0.001) and reported in 16 (80%) SSc cases and 3 (15%) of controls; (p = 0.000). Limited scleroderma cases had higher scores than diffuse type. Patients with total ca score (> 100) were older (p = 0.016), had longer disease duration (p = 0.001) and greater BMI (p = 0.002). Significant correlation was found between the log-transformed CCS and disease duration, age, BMI, left ventricular mass, and mass index. Systemic sclerosis patients are at increased risk of subclinical cardiovascular disease determined by cardiac Ca scoring as a noninvasive and reliable method. Extra coronary calcification may be an earlier indicator for this. Disease duration is a determinant risk factor for cardiac calcification in SSc. Key Points • Although the association between interleukin-6 (IL-6) promoter polymorphism and rheumatic arthritis (RA) has been discussed in the previous meta-analysis, their conclusions are inconsistent. • Systemic sclerosis patients are at high risk of accelerated atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Coronary atherosclerosis was previously estimated in SSc patients through coronary angiography. A novel method of assessing coronary artery disease is the coronary calcium score, as determined by multidetector computed tomography, it measures coronary artery calcification that occurs in atherosclerotic plaque. In this study, the cardiac coronary and extra coronary Ca score were evaluated in relation to disease characteristics in asymptomatic SSC patients for early detection of coronary artery disease.