Esophageal motility abnormalities in scleroderma. Report of 17 patients

Objective: Aim of this work was to study esophageal motor abnormalities in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Patients and methods: We studied 17 consecutive patients with SSc classified according to Le Roy et al. In each patient we performed barium esophagograms and esophageal manometry (EM) and we evaluated in particular lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure and relaxation and esophageal peristalsis. We also calculated the differences between the esophageal and intragastric pressure. Results: Esophageal abnormalities were detected by EM in all patients. Wave amplitude and duration were decreased in 14 and 9 patients respectively. Wave propagation was abnormal in 11 patients and LES pressure was reduced in all but 1. Only two patients with edematous skin changes and 1-year-long Raynaud's phenomenon had a slight esophageal involvement. Conclusion: Esophageal involvement was detected in all patients even though asymptomatic. A relationship was noted with the duration of the disease, but not with the severity of skin involvement.