title: Home parenteral nutrition is beneficial in systemic sclerosis patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess 12-month changes in nutritional status and quality of life (QoL) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients requiring home parenteral nutrition (HPN).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective, single-centre database analysis of SSc patients regarding a 12-month period of HPN at an interdisciplinary University Unit/team for nutrition and rheumatic diseases. Nutritional status was analysed by nutritional risk screening (NRS) and body mass index (BMI). QoL was evaluated using Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2008 and 2013, daily nocturnal HPN was initiated in five consecutive SSc patients (four females and one male, mean age 62.2 years) suffering severe malnutrition due to gastrointestinal tract (GIT) involvement. After 12 months of HPN, the mean NRS score decreased from 4.4 (range 4-5) to 1.4 (range 1-2), the mean BMI increased from 19.1 (range 17.4-20.3) to 21.0 kg/m2(range 18.3-23.4). QoL improved in all patients, reflected by the summary of physical components with 33.92 points before vs. 67.72 points after 12 months of HPN, and the summary of mental components with 49.66 points before vs. 89.27 points after 12 months of HPN. Two patients suffered one catheter-related infection each with subsequent surgical removal and reinsertion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HPN is a feasible method for improving anthropometric parameters and QoL in SSc patients severely affected by GIT dysfunction. We recommend HPN in malnourished, catabolic SSc patients unable to otherwise maintain or improve their nutritional status.
authors: a Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition , Bern University Hospital and University of Bern , Switzerland.
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Stanga
authors: a Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition , Bern University Hospital and University of Bern , Switzerland.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Aeberhard
authors: b Department of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergology , Bern University Hospital and University of Bern , Switzerland.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Schärer
authors: b Department of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergology , Bern University Hospital and University of Bern , Switzerland.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Kocher
authors: b Department of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergology , Bern University Hospital and University of Bern , Switzerland.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Adler
authors: b Department of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergology , Bern University Hospital and University of Bern , Switzerland.
authors: P M
authors: PM
authors: Villiger