[Myocardial scintigraphy with thallium-201 in the diagnosis of cardiac involvement in systemic scleroderma]

201Tl scintigraphy of the myocardium is a highly sensitive method of diagnosis of cardiac damage in SS. More severe lesions occur in patients with diffuse skin affections and subacute SS. Improvement of perfusion in dipiridamol test indicates the contribution of the spasm of microcirculation coronary vessels to the onset of perfusion defects. Further investigations are needed for evaluation of the role various vasodilators have in prevention of perfusion lesions and progressive myocardial fibrosis in SS patients.