Stem Cell Transplantation Associated With Improved Cardiac Function in Diffuse Systemic Sclerosis

Researchers examined longitudinal cardiac function after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in the Leiden Systemic Sclerosis cohort. They matched 43 transplant recipients with diffuse systemic sclerosis 1:1 to controls by sex, age, and disease duration. Patients with overt cardiac or pulmonary involvement were excluded. Annual echocardiography assessed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), global longitudinal strain (GLS), and diastolic parameters.

At baseline, transplant recipients had lower LVEF than controls (52.5% versus 56.1%; P = 0.044) and lower GLS (18.0% versus 19.5%; P = 0.014). During follow-up, ASCT was associated with improvements in LVEF (adjusted β = 1.59% per year) and GLS (adjusted β = 0.71% per year), both P < 0.001, whereas controls showed progressive decline. Diastolic parameters remained stable in both groups. Time-dependent changes in GLS, but not LVEF, were independently associated with all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 0.73 per percentage point; 95% CI 0.61–0.86).

The findings suggest potential cardiac benefit and support longitudinal echocardiographic monitoring in this population. However, the observational design and baseline differences limit causal interpretation. Exclusion of patients with overt cardiopulmonary involvement also limits generalizability. The available abstract does not report follow-up duration or mortality counts, and these results do not establish a survival benefit from transplantation.