A NEW interdisciplinary cardio-rheumatology model is paving the way for earlier detection and personalized treatment of cardiac complications in patients with systemic sclerosis, according to a recent review. This approach integrates advanced imaging techniques and artificial intelligence to identify subclinical vasculopathy before overt cardiac symptoms emerge.
Systemic sclerosis heart involvement (SHI) is a leading cause of mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis, often progressing silently due to unrecognized vasculopathic changes. Traditional methods of evaluation may not capture early-stage disease. To address this gap, the cardio-rheumatology clinic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center combines rheumatologic and cardiologic expertise with a suite of advanced diagnostic tools to characterize both vascular and cardiac manifestations of SHI.
The clinic uses a variety of techniques to assess small vessel vasculopathy, including nailfold capillaroscopy, thermography, and hand ultrasound with Doppler. These findings are then correlated with cardiac data obtained from echocardiograms, ambulatory rhythm monitoring, cardiac MRI, and PET/CT scans. This approach allows clinicians to detect cardiac disease in patients who may not yet display cardiac symptoms, opening the door to earlier interventions.
Importantly, the clinic’s model emphasizes mechanistic disease phenotyping and leverages artificial intelligence to analyze complex datasets. Through deep learning and pattern recognition, AI can process large volumes of imaging and monitoring data to identify quantifiable disease markers and guide therapeutic decisions. The review notes that expanding this work through a multicenter cloud-based image-sharing platform could further accelerate clinical research, particularly given the rarity of systemic sclerosis.
This integrated, data-rich approach represents a significant advance in personalizing care for a population with limited treatment options. By refining risk stratification and enabling earlier detection, cardio-rheumatology may improve outcomes for patients with systemic sclerosis.
Reference:
Ruiz May T et al. Cardio-rheumatology: integrated care and the opportunities for personalized medicine. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2025;17:1759720X251357188.
