[Proposal of a questionnaire for the characterization of the prevalence of digestive symptoms in connective tissue diseases].
BACKGROUND
Connective tissue diseases may damage multiple organic systems, including digestive system. In this one, the degree of injury vary according to the associated disease. Despite the significant frequency of gastrointestinal involvement, there are few studies characterizing the prevalence of digestive symptoms in connective tissue diseases. Furthermore, most of the studies available are less detailed and based in personal experiences or reviews of records.


OBJECTIVE
To establish a reliable list of gastrointestinal symptoms found in the progressive systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, mixed connective tissue disease and systemic lupus erythematosus, through a medical interview and a predefined questionnaire of symptoms.


METHODS
There were studied 99 patients, 90% females, mean age 45 years. The whole group were composed of 35 rheumatoid arthritis, 26 progressive systemic sclerosis, 21 systemic lupus erythematosus, 12 polymyositis/dermatomyositis and 5 mixed connective tissue disease. Each patient was submitted to an interview with a well trained doctor and answered a structured questionnaire, containing 17 questions.


RESULTS
It was found a high prevalence of digestive symptoms in all five connective tissue diseases searched. Many of them were present in more than 50% of the patients. Called special attention the detection of some manifestations neglected by the literature like, for example, fecal incontinence. Also, disagreeing with other authors, was the finding of multiple gastrointestinal manifestations associated with rheumatoid arthritis. It was particularly surprising the occurrence of dysphagia in one third of the rheumatoid arthritis group.


CONCLUSIONS
The connective tissue diseases are usual causes of many gastrointestinal complaints. The use of an interview plus predefined questionnaire seems a very effective way to identify and characterize symptoms and is even sometimes able to uncover features unknown before. Finally, the lack of studies, specially updated studies, did not allow more comprehensive comparisons.
Machado
Wellington M
WM
Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Botucatu, SP. wmachado@fmb.unesp.br
Freire
Beatriz Funayama A
BF
Rocha
Oswaldo M
OM
Azambuja
Carlos Armando P
CA
Oliveira
Maria Elisa C
ME
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires