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Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Prevalence and associated factors of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth among systemic sclerosis patients
Kookwan Sawadpanich1, Pisit Soison1, Kitti Chunlertrith1
1Faculty of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Background:
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) results in nutrient malabsorption and malnutrition, thereby increasing the morbidity and mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.
Objectives:
To evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of SIBO in SSc patients.
Method:
A cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2015 and January 2016 in SSc patients over 18, using the glucose H2 /CH4 breath test to evaluate SIBO.
Results:
Eighty-nine SSc patients (30 male and 59 female) underwent the glucose H2 /CH4 breath test. The mean age was 54.4. Twelve participants were positive for the glucose H2 /CH4 breath test, yielding a SIBO prevalence of 13.5% (95% CI 7.2-22.4) among SSc patients. A multivariate analysis revealed that duration of disease >5 years was significantly associated with SIBO (adjusted odds ratio 9.38; 95% CI 1.09-80.47).
Conclusion:
The prevalence of SIBO, using the glucose H2 /CH4 breath test, is not common among Thai SSc patients. However, a positive result was associated with longer duration of disease.
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