We describe two patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc) where the
echocardiogram revealed asymmetric hypertrophy of the interventricular
septum with signs of subaortic obstruction consistent with hypertrophic
obstructive cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is associated
with the human lymphocyte antigen (HLA DR3), and this may provide a
possible link with SSc, as this HLA phenotype is common in the latter
condition. However, further studies should examine whether a true
association exists
