[Cardiovascular manifestations in mixed connective tissue disease in adults]

Twenty two patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) were studied with noninvasive cardiovascular techniques. Fifty percent of the cases presented cardiovascular abnormalities which in order of importance were: pericarditis with effusion (28%), myocarditis (14%) and one case; myocardial infarction. Complications of less importance were: supraventricular and ventricular premature beats, enlargement of left and right cardiac chambers, septal hypertrophy and type A paradoxical septal movement. We consider that patients with MCTD should have a routine cardiological evaluation.