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Esophageal dysfunction and Raynaud's phenomenon in patients with scleroderma
The American Journal of Digestive Diseases
|August 1, 1976
Summary
Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) does not predict esophageal dysfunction in scleroderma patients. Esophageal motility issues in scleroderma may stem from two independent causes, one linked to RP and another unrelated to it.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Rheumatology
- Scleroderma Research
Background:
- Scleroderma is associated with esophageal dysmotility.
- Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is a common symptom in scleroderma patients.
- The link between RP severity and esophageal dysfunction in scleroderma requires clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and esophageal motility dysfunction in scleroderma patients.
- To determine if RP can predict the degree of esophageal motility abnormalities.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 12 scleroderma patients.
- Quantitated esophageal motility abnormalities using a motility index (MI).
- Compared MI in scleroderma patients to controls.
Main Results:
- Scleroderma patients showed significantly different motility indices compared to controls.
- No correlation was found between RP duration/severity and the extent of esophageal motility abnormality.
- Absence of coordinated esophageal peristalsis was a common finding, irrespective of RP.
Conclusions:
- Raynaud's phenomenon alone cannot predict esophageal motility dysfunction in scleroderma.
- Scleroderma may involve two independent pathogenetic components: one linked to RP (neuromuscular transmission) and another independent component (esophageal muscle weakness).