A Case of Sick Sinus Syndrome in a Patient with Systemic Sclerosis / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by the presence of microvascular disease and various patterns of cutaneous and parenchymal fibrosis. Manifestation of SSc may occur in numerous tissues and organs and can be particularly problematic when present in the lungs, kidneys or heart. Cardiac involvement in SSc includes pericarditis, myocardial disease, conduction abnormalities, and arrhythmia. Sick sinus syndrome is described as a combination of symptoms (dizziness, confusion, fatigue, syncope and congestive heart failure) caused by sinus node dysfunction and manifested by marked sinus bradycardia, sinoatrial block, or sinus arrest. Sinus node dysfunction is most often seen in the elderly but also, rarely, in systemic amyloidosis and connective tissue disease. Sick sinus syndrome is rarely found in patients with SSc, of which there has been only one case report, according to a review of the literature. Therefore, we report a case of sick sinus syndrome in a 71-year-old female with SSc.