[Three cases of systemic sclerosis-associated gastrointestinal dysfunction that were improved with oral bovine type...

We report three cases of enteropathy associated with systemic sclerosis that were improved with oral type II collagen. The first patient, who was diagnosed as having systemic sclerosis-polymyositis overlap syndrome at the age of 35, was hospitalized for treatment of renal crisis at the age of 36. He acquired severe enteropathy associated with systemic sclerosis. The renal crisis was improved with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, but enteropathy persisted. He was given type II collagen in order to treat ileus. Four weeks later, ileus was improved and he was able to take foods. The second patient, a 63-year-old female whose onset of systemic sclerosis was at the age of 58, complained of ileus several times and was given oral type II collagen. Six weeks later, ileus was improved. The third patient, a 19-year-old female, was diagnosed as having systemic sclerosis-polymyositis overlap syndrome. Enteropathy was so severe that she could not take foods for 1 year. She was given oral type II collagen. Six months later, ileus and skin sclerosis were markedly improved. These results suggest that oral type II collagen is effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction associated with systemic sclerosis.