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Connective tissue diseases

To screen or not to screen for PAH in connective tissue diseases?

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a lethal complication in connective tissue diseases (CTDs) with varying frequency of occurrence; the highest incidence is in systemic sclerosis. Data for PAH screening by echocardiography in other CTDs are not strong. Should we only investigate symptomatic patients or perform regular screening for PAH in CTDs?

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Correspondence to Janet E. Pope.

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J. E. Pope has acted as a consultant for and received grant support from Actelion.

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Pope, J. To screen or not to screen for PAH in connective tissue diseases?. Nat Rev Rheumatol 9, 699–700 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2013.167

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