Clin Exp Rheumatol
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Heart and pulmonary involvement is a leading cause of systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related deaths. The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a simple and reproducible test commonly used to evaluate exercise capacity. We tried to assess a potential relationship between exercise capacity assessed by 6MWT, echocardiographic parameters of right ventricular function and serum levels of endothelin-1 and NTproBNP. ⋯ Decreased exercise capacity significantly correlates with biochemical and echocardiographic parameters of right ventricular dysfunction and neurohormonal activation providing a potential link for neuroendocrine derangement in patients with SSc.