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Published on: September 22, 2019
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in systemic sclerosis.
Isabelle Marie1, Philippe Ducrotté, Philippe Denis
1Department of Internal Medicine, Rouen University Hospital, 76301 Rouen Cedex, France. isabelle.marie@chu-rouen.fr
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) affects nearly half of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). A high global symptomatic score (GSS) can predict SIBO, aiding in early diagnosis and treatment for SSc patients.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Rheumatology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune disease with frequent gastrointestinal manifestations.
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is increasingly recognized as a contributing factor to digestive issues in various conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of SIBO in patients with SSc.
- To evaluate the clinical presentation and outcomes of SIBO in this population.
- To identify risk factors and predictive markers for SIBO in SSc patients.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-one SSc patients underwent a glucose hydrogen and methane breath test.
- Patients completed a questionnaire to calculate a global symptomatic score (GSS).
- SIBO treatment involved 3-month courses of antibiotics, with follow-up breath tests.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of SIBO in SSc patients was 43.1%.
- Diarrhea and constipation were identified as risk factors for SIBO.
- A GSS of 5 or higher strongly correlated with SIBO presence (P = 10(-6)), showing high sensitivity (0.909) and specificity (0.862).
- SIBO eradication was achieved in 52.4% of treated patients, with significant symptom improvement.
Conclusions:
- SIBO is a common comorbidity in patients with SSc.
- A GSS of 5 or higher is a reliable predictor of SIBO in SSc patients.
- Systematic GSS assessment and targeted glucose breath testing in high-GSS SSc patients are recommended.
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