Absence of oesophageal mucosal folds in systemic sclerosis

In a controlled study of barium swallow radiographs in systemic sclerosis, longitudinal oesophageal mucosal folds were absent in eight of 30 patients and in one of 30 control subjects (P less than 0.03). Patients without mucosal folds developed Raynaud's phenomenon at an earlier age than those who retained their mucosal folds (P less than 0.05). A loss of oesophageal mucosal folds did not necessarily signify more severe visceral or cutaneous disease.