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Esophageal hypomotility in systemic sclerosis: close relationship with pulmonary involvement
K Kinuya1, K Nakajima, S Kinuya
1Department of Radiology, Tonami General Hospital, Toyama, Japan. dinky@d9.dion.ne.jp
Annals of Nuclear Medicine
|July 13, 2001
Summary
Esophageal dysfunction in systemic sclerosis (SSc) correlates with disease extent and pulmonary involvement. Scintigraphy
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Rheumatology
- Nuclear Medicine
Background:
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc) frequently causes esophageal dysmotility.
- Assessing esophageal function is crucial for managing SSc complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate esophageal motility in SSc patients using scintigraphy.
- To correlate esophageal function with scleroderma extent, disease duration, anti-topoisomerase I antibodies, and pulmonary involvement.
Main Methods:
- Scintigraphy with 99mTc-DTPA was performed in 47 SSc patients.
- A multiple-swallow test assessed esophageal retention ratio (RR).
- RR was correlated with clinical and serological markers.
Main Results:
- Diffuse scleroderma and positive anti-topoisomerase I antibodies were associated with higher RRs.
- Reduced pulmonary function (%DLCO, %VC) and pulmonary fibrosis correlated with increased esophageal retention.
- No correlation was found between esophageal function and disease duration.
Conclusions:
- Esophageal dysfunction in SSc is linked to disease severity, specific antibodies, and lung compromise.
- Retention ratio (RR) serves as an objective marker for organ fibrosis severity in SSc.