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Updated: Feb 16, 2026

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Esophageal symptoms and their lack of association with high-resolution manometry in systemic sclerosis patients
Ana Cecilia Arana-Guajardo1, Gustavo Barrera-Torres2, Miguel Ángel Villarreal-Alarcón1
1Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Servicio de Reumatología, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario "Dr. José Eleuterio González", Monterrey, Mexico.
Background:
The esophageal involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) causes impact in the morbidity and mortality. High resolution manometry assesses esophageal involvement. Our aim was to categorize esophageal motor disorder in patients with SSc by HRM.
Methods:
We carried out an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study. All patients underwent HRM as well as semi-structured interviews to assess frequency and severity of upper GI symptoms. Patients also completed the gastroesophageal reflux questionnaire (Carlsson-Dent).
Results:
We included 19 patients with SSc, 1 with morphea, and 1 with scleroderma sine scleroderma. Dysphagia and heartburn were the most frequent symptoms (61% each). We found an abnormal HRM in 15 (71.4%) patients. We found no statistically significant association between clinical or demographic variables and an abnormal HRM, or between any upper GI symptom and HRM findings.
Conclusion:
We observed a high prevalence of esophageal symptoms and of HRM abnormalities. However, there was no clear association between symptomatology and HRM findings. HRM does not seem to accurately predict upper GI symptomatology.
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