Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Identification of Risk Factors for Incident Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction and Predictors of Cardiac Recovery in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis
Authors' conclusion
Distinct demographic SSc-specific and cardiac characteristics are associated with increased risk of incident LVSD in SSc, with skeletal myopathy and anti-Ku antibodies being important risk factors for severe disease. Some patients improved, which was more likely in anti-RNAP III positive patients.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) in the Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center Research Registry
- Participants
- 2,303 patients13,209 echocardiograms
- Outcome
- Incident LVSD (EF ≥50% declining to <50%; EF >35% dropping to ≤35% [severe LVSD]) and cardiac recovery
Methodological detailsregistry-based, multivariate logistic regression with time-varying and invariant variables, random forest analysis
- Registry-based
- Multivariate logistic regression with time-varying and invariant variables
- Random forest analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Incident left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) (ejection fraction (EF) < 50%): male sex, Black race, diffuse skin disease, higher modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS), echocardiographic pulmonary hypertension (PH), kidney disease and AF associated with increased odds; anticentromere and anti-topoisomerase-1 protective
- Incident severe LVSD (EF ≤ 35%): male sex, higher mRSS, PH, skeletal myopathy, kidney disease, AF and anti-Ku antibodies associated with higher odds
- Recovery after previous EF <50%: tendon friction rubs associated with lower odds, anti-RNA polymerase III with higher odds
- Recovery to EF >35% after previous EF ≤35%: diabetes associated with lower odds
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Identification of Risk Factors for Incident Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction and Predictors of Cardiac Recovery in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis. Arthritis Rheumatol. Published 4 January 2026. doi:10.
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