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Solid phase radionuclide esophageal motility in polymyositis and dermatomyositis
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Gaoxiong Yi Xue Ke Xue Za Zhi = the Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
|June 1, 1993
Summary
Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) frequently cause delayed esophageal emptying, indicating gastrointestinal smooth muscle malfunction. Esophageal motility measurements may help monitor disease activity in these inflammatory myopathies.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Rheumatology
- Nuclear Medicine
Background:
- Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are inflammatory myopathies.
- Gastrointestinal tract motor dysfunction, particularly in the esophagus, is a recognized complication of PM and DM.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate esophageal motor function in patients with PM or DM using a solid-phase esophageal study.
- To determine the prevalence of abnormal esophageal motility in PM/DM patients.
Main Methods:
- Solid-phase esophageal scintigraphy was performed on 23 PM/DM patients and 36 healthy controls.
- Subjects ingested a gelatin bolus labeled with Tc-99m phytate.
- Esophageal transit parameters including mean transit time (MTT), residual fraction (RF), and retrograde index (RI) were calculated using computer analysis.
Main Results:
- Delayed esophageal emptying was observed in 17 out of 23 PM/DM patients (74%).
- This suggests frequent smooth muscle malfunction in the upper gastrointestinal tract of PM/DM patients.
- Preliminary findings indicate a potential role for esophageal motility measurement in monitoring disease activity.
Conclusions:
- Esophageal motor dysfunction is common in patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis.
- Solid-phase esophageal scintigraphy is a valuable tool for assessing upper gastrointestinal motility in these conditions.
- Esophageal motility assessment may serve as a biomarker for disease activity in PM/DM.