[A complication of coronary angiography in a female patient with systemic sclerosis].

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder characterized by microvascular obliterations of the skin, lungs, and heart. Pulmonary hypertension is a potentially life-threatening complication of systemic sclerosis and coronary angiography is indicated for diagnosing this complication. A 79-year-old woman, who suffered from systemic sclerosis and Raynaud's syndrome, presented with a cold, painful, ulcerated right hand. It appeared that arterial occlusion of the radial artery had occurred following coronary angiography. Symptoms initially worsened, but improved following treatment with bosentan. This complication could have been avoided by performing the coronary angiography via the femoral artery. This case study emphasises the importance of taking medical history and comorbidities into account when carrying out invasive diagnostic procedures.