Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in systemic sclerosis. A report of two cases.

We describe two patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc) where the echocardiogram revealed asymmetric hypertrophy of the interventricular septum with signs of subaortic obstruction consistent with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is associated with the human lymphocyte antigen (HLA DR3), and this may provide a possible link with SSc, as this HLA phenotype is common in the latter condition. However, further studies should examine whether a true association exists.