Severe left ventricular dysfunction in a patient with primary Sjögren's syndrome

• Published in: Nihon Rinshō Menʾeki Gakkai kaishi Vol. 20; no. 3; p. 199
• Main Authors: Takaoka, S, Higuchi, M, Odashiro, K, Yoshizawa, S, Horiuchi, T, Niho, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan 01-06-1997
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Humans; Sjogren's Syndrome - complications; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - etiology
• ISSN: 0911-4300

A 43-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of shortness of breath and palpitation on exertion. She had a 20-year history of dry mouth and a 10-year history of recurrent pneumonia. She had been diagnosed as having primary Sjögren's syndrome with interstitial pneumonia at 42 years of age. On admission, cardiac ultrasonography revealed reduced left ventricular systolic function. Complications that would elicit cardiac manifestations such as viral myocarditis, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, and ischemic heart disease, were excluded. Oral corticosteroid therapy was effective for alleviating symptoms. In this patient, it appears that primary Sjögren's syndrome is involved in the reduced left ventricular systolic function.