Myocardial fibrosis detected by magnetic resonance imaging, elevated U-CRP and higher mRSS are predictors of cardiovascular complications in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.

Introduction: In previous studies we showed that prevalence of myocardial fibrosis as assessed by late enhancement on cardiac MRI in SSc patients is 45% and is associated to diffuse disease (dcSSc) and lower left ventricle ejection fraction; microvascular damage defined as decreased perfusion on cardiac MRI after adenosine infusion, was also very frequent (79%). Our aim was to identify baseline characteristics associated to the development of cardiovascular outcomes (heart failure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, vasculopathy, elevated systolic pulmonary artery pressure and death) in SSc patients with previously documented myocardial fibrosis and microvascular damage.

Patients And Methods: We included 62 SSc patients who participated in the study of prevalence of myocardial fibrosis (2008-2010) and in our local SSc cohort.

HLA Class I and II Blocks Are Associated to Susceptibility, Clinical Subtypes and Autoantibodies in Mexican Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) Patients.

Introduction: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphism studies in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) have yielded variable results. These studies need to consider the genetic admixture of the studied population. Here we used our previously reported definition of genetic admixture of Mexicans using HLA class I and II DNA blocks to map genetic susceptibility to develop SSc and its complications.