Noninvasive Cardiovascular Studies in Patients with Inflammatory Myopathy

The authors prospectively performed echocardiographic and Doppler studies on 13 patients with inflammatory myopathy to evaluate ventricular function, to assess valve morphology and function, and to obtain hemodynamic data. No patient had a reduction in left ventricular function or evidence of significant val vular disease. Hemodynamic assessment suggested evidence of pulmonary hyper tension in 9 patients. They conclude that cardiomyopathy in association with inflammatory myopathy is unusual and that the suggestion of pulmonary hyper tension is unexplained and merits further evaluation.