![]() ![]() The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) is an umbrella organisation which represents scientific societies, health professional associations and organisations for people with Rheumatic Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMD) throughout Europe.ĮULAR aims to promote, stimulate and support the research, prevention, and treatment of RMD and the rehabilitation of those it affects.ĮULAR underlines the importance of combating rheumatic diseases not only by medical means, but also through a wider context of care for rheumatic patients and a thorough understanding of their social and other needs. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance imaging data available for 15 of these SSc patients showed markers of cardiac damage that significantly correlated with these heart rhythm abnormalities.įor further information on this study, or to request an interview with the study lead, please do not hesitate to contact the EULAR congress In this pilot study, the heart monitor picked up a variety of heart rhythm abnormalities in more than half of the cohort of 19 SSc patients, including supraventricular ectopics, ventricular ectopics, ventricular tachycardia and complete heart block. ![]() The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic and takes 15-20 minutes. Electrodes that monitor the heart's electrical activity are on the surface of the device, so there are no wires, and the device is enclosed in a protective case. The device, about the size of a pack of chewing gum, is typically inserted through a small cut to lie under the skin in the upper left chest. Its use is well established in cardiology practice. It is capable of storing ECG data automatically in response to any significant change in heart rhythm, or in response to patient activation when symptoms are experienced. This heart monitor (also known as an implantable loop recorder) is a subcutaneous, single-lead, electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring device used to diagnose heart rhythm abnormalities. "Early diagnosis and treatment to reduce the risk of complications is therefore essential and crucial for a positive outcome," she added. "We know that cardiac involvement in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is associated with a very poor prognosis, accounting for between 14 and 55% of deaths among patients with SSc,", said Dr Lesley-Anne Bissell of the Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, University of Leeds, United Kingdom. Cardiac involvement is thought to be common in patients with SSc, although there are often no symptoms or signs. Damage to the heart as a direct consequence of SSc may involve the conduction system that controls the heartbeat, the heart muscle, heart valves and/or the external lining of the heart. SSc is an autoimmune rheumatic disease affecting multiple organs, including the heart. The findings support the need to identify SSc patients at risk of heart problems that would benefit from this implanted recorder. London, United Kingdom, June 9, 2016: The results of a study presented today at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress (EULAR 2016) showed that use of an easy to insert heart monitor in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and no known heart disease enables early detection and treatment of potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias. ![]()
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