AB1203 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PERICARDIAL EFFUSION IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS
Authors: P. V. Voulgari, N. Koletsos, E. Kaltsonoudis, N. Gerolymatou, E. Pelechas, A. Drosos
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a complex connective tissue disease, with multiple organ involvement. The heart is frequently involved and all structures of the heart can be affected. Pericardial effusion (PE), although usually asymptomatic, has been associated with reduced survival in SSc cohorts [1,2]. Most studies, however, have focused on the association of PE with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in SSc, where PE is a prognostic factor for survival among SSc patients with PH [3,4]. <h3>Objectives:</h3> The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency and to investigate possible associations of persistent/recurrent PE with clinical and serological characteristics in a cohort of Greek SSc patients. <h3>Methods:</h3> This is a retrospective study. Patients with a definite diagnosis of SSc, that were followed at our centre, were included in the study. Demographic, clinical and serological characteristics, along with information regarding echocardiograms were recorded. <h3>Results:</h3> In total 163 SSc patients had at least 2 echocardiograms and were enrolled in the analysis. Median disease duration was 9.1 (4.7 – 15.8) years. Most of the patients were female (84.7%) and 66.9% had limited SSc. Of these patients, 12.9% had persistent/recurrent PE, 18.4% had PE on one echocardiogram and 68.7% were persistently negative for PE. Persistent/recurrent PE was associated with heart rate abnormalities, PH, interstitial lung disease (ILD) and telangiectasias. Patients with persistent/recurrent PE were more often under treatment with immunosuppressants, while a trend was observed regarding the use of steroids. Moreover, patients with persistent/recurrent PE had more frequently increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate. In the multivariate analysis, however, only the associations with PH and ILD remained statistically significant. <h3>Conclusion:</h3> In this study of SSc patients we observed that the presence of persistent/recurrent PE is significantly associated with PH and ILD, irrespectively of the treatment. The results may help the clinician to better stratify the patients in need for a closer follow-up. However, larger and prospective studies are needed to verify these results. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> [1] Simeon CP, Armadans L, Fonollosa V, Solans R, Selva A, Villar M, et al. Mortality and prognostic factors in Spanish patients with systemic sclerosis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2003;42(1):71–5. [2] Becker M, Graf N, Sauter R, Allanore Y, Curram J, Denton CP, et al. Predictors of disease worsening defined by progression of organ damage in diffuse systemic sclerosis: a European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) analysis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2019;78(9):1242–8. [3] Lefèvre G, Dauchet L, Hachulla E, Montani D, Sobanski V, Lambert M, et al. Survival and Prognostic Factors in Systemic Sclerosis–Associated Pulmonary Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Arthritis Rheum. 2013;65(9):2412–23. [4] Luo Y, Gordon JK, Xu J, Kolstad KD, Chung L, Steen VD, et al. Prognostic significance of pericardial effusion in systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary hypertension: analysis from the PHAROS Registry. Rheumatology. 2023; <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>