Which factors impact myocardial function in systemic sclerosis?

Background: The aim of our study was to determine clinical and echocardiographic parameters, which impacted the left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) diastolic and global function in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: The study included 50 SSc patients and 48 age-matched healthy volunteers. All the patients underwent clinical examination, serological tests, pulmonary function testing, and complete two-dimensional echocardiography, which included pulsed and tissue Doppler.