[The sclerodermic cardiopathy. Infarction-like electrocardiographic picture and clinico-echocardiographic correlation in three observed cases (author's transl)].

We present three cases of primary sclerodermic cardiopathy with an electrocardiographic picture of anterior myocardial infarction not preceded by chest pain. On one of the cases a coronary angiography was performed with negative results. The echocardiogram of case no 1 showed a pattern of congestive cardiomyopathy, while case no 2 showed a picture of an infiltrative cardiomyopathy. In case no 2 the electrocardiographic picture changed to that of a right bundle branch block with left posterior fascicular block and with the disappearance of the anterior infarction. The His bundle electrogram showed a prolongation of the HV interval, while hemodynamically no signs were shown of impaired mechanical heart function. The clinical and echocardiographic aspects of the sclerodermic cardiopathy are here discussed with particular reference to the possibility of the prevalent compromise of the conduction system that could explain the not uncommon incidence of sudden death.