title: Systemic Sclerosis: Gastrointestinal Disease and Its Management.
abstract: The gastrointestinal tract, affecting more than 90% of patients, is the internal organ most frequently involved in systemic sclerosis. Any part of the gastrointestinal tract can be affected, from the mouth to the anus. Patients often experience reduced quality of life and impaired social life. Although only 8% have severe gastrointestinal involvement, mortality is high in those patients. Recent studies on the pathophysiology of the disease highlight new mechanisms to explain gastrointestinal dysmotility, but treatment remains symptomatic. This article reviews the pathophysiology of the gastrointestinal tract and discusses the investigation and management of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Suite A725, 3755 Cote St Catherine Road, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E2, Canada. Electronic address: genevieve.gyger@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Genevieve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gyger
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Suite A725, 3755 Cote St Catherine Road, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E2, Canada.
authors.forename: Murray
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baron
mesh_terms: D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007418:Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000209:etiology; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D011006:Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / Q000209:etiology; D012002:Rectal Diseases; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Constipation; Dysmotility; Esophagus; Fecal incontinence; Gastroesophageal reflux; Gastroparesis; Pseudo-obstruction; Systemic sclerosis