title: Nutrition in systemic sclerosis.
abstract: Systemic sclerosis is a connective tissue disease characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of multiple organs (skin, gastrointestinal tract, lung, kidney and heart). After the skin, the organ most affected with a frequency of 75 to 90%, the gastrointestinal tract is more often involved. Gastrointestinal tract involvement is manifested by the appearance of oropharyngeal dysphagia, esophageal dysphagia, gastroesophageal reflux, gastroparesis, pseudo-obstruction, bacterial overgrowth and intestinal malabsorption, constipation, diarrhea and/or fecal incontinence. These effects influence food intake and intestinal absorption leading to the gradual emergence of nutritional deficiencies. About 30% of patients with systemic sclerosis are at risk of malnutrition. In 5-10%, gastrointestinal disorders are the leading cause of death. Therapeutic strategies currently available are limited and aimed at reducing clinical symptoms. The multidisciplinary management of these patients, including nutritional intervention, helps improve gastrointestinal symptoms, and avoid malnutrition, morbidity and improve quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Endocrinología, Hospital General de Granollers, España.
authors.forename: M A Asunción
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Recasens
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Santamaria
mesh_terms: D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology