Background: A higher prevalence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) was reported. However, contrasting findings were published concerning the role of SSc-related autoantibodies in IHD risk which remains controversial.

Objectives: The current study explored the link between SSc and IHD, impact of putative links on SSc mortality and the role of SSc-related and antiphospholipid autoantibodies in disease associated IHD.

Methods: A large cohort study utilising the Clalit-Health-Service (CHS) database was conducted on 2,431 SSc patients and 12,710 age- and sex matched controls. The proportion of IHD was compared between patients diagnosed with SSc and age- and gender-matched controls. The role of SSc-linked and antiphospholipid autoantibodies in disease associated IHD was assessed.

Results: The rate of IHD was significantly higher in SSc than controls (20.4% vs 15.0%, p<0.001). At the multivariate analysis, SSc was an independent predictor of IHD with an OR of 1.91 (95%CI 1.57-2.31, p<0.0001). SSc patients with IHD had a higher mortality rate with an HR of 2.67 (95%CI 2.03-3.53, p<0.0001) than those without IHD. SSc patients with positive anti-beta2GPI (IgM-isotype) or anti-cardiolipin (aCL) (IgA-isotype) exhibited a higher risk of IHD than SSc patients without these antibodies with an OR 1.89 (95% 1.04-3.45, p=0.0369) and OR of 3.72 (95% 1.25-11.11, p=0.0184), respectively.

Conclusion: Patients with SSc are at higher risk for developing IHD with an additional risk for the latter in those positive for aCL or anti-beta2GPI. A high degree of suspicion is needed during routine patient follow-up and pre-emptive screening should be considered.

Disclosure of Interests: Abdulla Watad: None declared, Dennis McGonagle Grant/research support from: Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Nicola Luigi Bragazzi: None declared, Doron Comanesther: None declared, Arnon Cohen: None declared, Merav Lidar: None declared, Howard Amital: None declared