Gastrointestinal manifestations of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)
Posted Apr 19 2010 12:00am
INTRODUCTION
Nearly 90 percent of patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) have some degree of gastrointestinal (GI) involvement, with approximately one-half being symptomatic. Severe GI problems, including malabsorption and intestinal pseudoobstruction, are much less common, affecting less than 10 percent of patients during the first nine years of illness. The earliest visceral manifestation to be described was esophageal disease, which remains the most common source of GI symptoms in scleroderma. It has since been demonstrated that any part of the gastrointestinal tract (from mouth to anus) may be involved.
The issues relating to the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of gastrointestinal disease in systemic sclerosis (SSc) will be reviewed here. Treatment of these problems is discussed separately.
INTRODUCTION
Nearly 90 percent of patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) have some degree of gastrointestinal (GI) involvement, with approximately one-half being symptomatic. Severe GI problems, including malabsorption and intestinal pseudoobstruction, are much less common, affecting less than 10 percent of patients during the first nine years of illness. The earliest visceral manifestation to be described was esophageal disease, which remains the most common source of GI symptoms in scleroderma. It has since been demonstrated that any part of the gastrointestinal tract (from mouth to anus) may be involved.
The issues relating to the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of gastrointestinal disease in systemic sclerosis (SSc) will be reviewed here. Treatment of these problems is discussed separately.
Read More....GENERAL PATHOGENESIS and Pathology