Esophageal dysfunction in patients with mixed connective tissue diseases and systemic lupus erythematosus

We sought to correlate esophageal symptoms with esophageal motility abnormality in 17 patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and in 14 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Heartburn and regurgitation were common symptoms (11/17) in patients with MCTD, and most of the (10/11) exhibited significant manometric abnormalities. Additionally, impairment of esophageal peristalsis was found in four of the remaining asymptomatic patients. Severe esophageal aperistalsis was noted in nine MCTD patients. Patients with SLE also frequently reported esophageal symptoms (8/14), but significant motility abnormalities were seen in only three cases. In both patient groups good correlation between Raynaud's phenomenon and esophageal aperistalsis was found. Our results reveal that, although esophageal symptoms are commonly present in patients with both MCTD and SLE, severe esophageal motility abnormalities are more often found in patients with MCTD than in those with SLE.