[Evaluation of esophageal involvement by pHmetry in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis]

The authors studied 16 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis to whom it was performed ph-metry, acid clearance and oesophageal electromanometry, compared the results with a control group of 20 patients. The oesophageal basal ph showed significative difference (p greater than 0.001) at the same as acid clearance (p greater than 0.01). It was not found correlation between the manometric alterations and acid clearance changes. (F 5%); at same as the last one and the clinical evolution period. (r = 0.16). Gastroesophageal reflux was positive in all the patients. The authors considered that intra-esophageal ph-metry and acid clearance was two methods with high sensibility to evaluate the oesophageal deterioration in systemic disease.