[Clinical, endoscopic and morphological manifestations of oesophageal lesion in systemic scleroderma]

Oesophageal lesion is the commonest visceral manifestation of systemic scleroderma (SSD) affecting the quality of life and fraught with serious complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical, endoscopic andmorphological manifestations of oesophageal lesion in systemic scleroderma and its relationships with other clinical symptoms and pharmacotherapy of the disease.

479 patients with SSD (93.7% women, 6.3% men, mean age 48.7 +/- 19.2 yr). All of them underwent EGDS in 2005-2010. 123 patients were examined for the detection of Barrett's oesophagus (BO), total screening regardless of complaints was conducted in 2010. Control group included 1018 age and sex-matched patients with RA who underwent EGDS in 2008-2009.

Oesophageal lesions occurred much more frequently in SSD than in RA. Oesophageal symptoms were documented in 70.0 and 29.9% cases, non-erosive oesopahgitis in 28.8 and 1.5%, erosive esophagitis in 22.5 and 2.2% ulcers in 0.8 and 0% (p < 0.001). BO manifested as intestinal metaplasia (histological study of mucosal biopsy) was found in 30 SSD patients (4.2%). Screening revealed BO in 8.9% of the patients. The development of erosive oesophagitis was unrelated to the age of the patients, duration of the disease and its form (localized or diffusive), lung pathology or Sjogren's syndrome. Cytotoxic medicines significantly increased the frequency of erosive oesophagitis, it tended to increase under effect of NSAID and low doses of aspirin. Long-term intake of PPI did not reduce the risk of oesophagitis and BO.

Half of the patients with SSD have oesophagitis. Over 20% of them suffer its complications (erosion and ulcers) and 9% have BO. All such patients need endoscopic study ofoesophagus regardless of clinical symptoms.