Early myocardial and skeletal muscle interstitial remodelling in systemic sclerosis: insights from extracellular volume quantification using cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Abstract

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) may induce cardiac fibrosis and systo-diastolic dysfunction. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) can detect replacement myocardial fibrosis with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and interstitial myocardial fibrosis with T1 mapping techniques. The aim of the study was to detect subclinical cardiac involvement with CMR in paucisymptomatic SSc patients with no previous history of myocardial disease, comparing it with skeletal muscle remodelling.