Complete Heart Block in Systemic Sclerosis with Characterization on Cardiac MRI

Abstract

Cardiac involvement of infiltrative disease, such as systemic sclerosis, carries significant morbidity and mortality. All parts of the heart may be affected, although the conduction system is less commonly involved. We report a rare case of systemic sclerosis causing third-degree atrioventricular block and the first known reported case to use cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) as a diagnostic and prognostic instrument. It is not known whether using cardiac CMR in systemic sclerosis with cardiac involvement could lead to earlier intervention with escalation of medical therapy or earlier referral for transplant evaluation.