• Ke Liu, Xuejiao Li, and Dan Li.
• Emergency Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of ChongQing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2024 Jan 19; 103 (3): e36885e36885.

RationaleConnective tissue disease (CTD) is a heterogeneous group of chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorders derived from a systemically auto-immunological deregulation. CTD may affect cardiac structures through multiple pathophysiological mechanisms, and subclinical cardiac injury is common. Heart failure (HF) is one of the common complications in these patients.Patient ConcernsPatients with CTD suffer an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and may have chest pain and shortness of breath.DiagnosisHF is characterized by dyspnea or exertional limitation due to impaired ventricular filling and/or blood ejection. HF can be caused by other systemic diseases, not only by cardiovascular disorders but CTD. CTD may cause HF due to diffuse myocardial damage, heart valve damage, coronary ischemia, and so on.InterventionsThe patient with catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome take prednisone and warfarin. The patient with anti-synthetase syndrome was treated with immunoglobulin, followed by long-term oral medicines of prednisone, methotrexate, and folic acid.OutcomesThe symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath for patients with CTD improved.LessonsHF is one of the common complications in these patients with CTD, which has poor prognosis and severe aggravation. Once such patients experience chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath, etc, we should consider the possibility of HF. Early identification and correct treatment can delay the progression of HF, improve the prognosis, and enhance the quality of life for patients. Therefore, we should pay more attention to patients with CTD combined with HF.Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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