Gastrointestinal Tract Considerations Part I: How Should a Rheumatologist Best Manage Common Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Complaints in Systemic Sclerosis?

Alannah Quinlivan; Zsuzsanna H McMahan; Eun Bong Lee; Mandana Nikpour

doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2023.01.006

Gastrointestinal Tract Considerations Part I: How Should a Rheumatologist Best Manage Common Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Complaints in Systemic Sclerosis?

Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2023 May;49(2):295-318. doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2023.01.006. Epub 2023 Feb 28.

Authors

Alannah Quinlivan¹, Zsuzsanna H McMahan², Eun Bong Lee³, Mandana Nikpour⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rheumatology, St Vincent's Hospital, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia; Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne at St Vincent's Hospital, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
² Division of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University, 5200 Eastern Avenue, Suite 5200, Mason F. Lord Building, Center Tower, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
³ Division of Rheumatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
⁴ Department of Rheumatology, St Vincent's Hospital, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia; Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne at St Vincent's Hospital, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: m.nikpour@unimelb.edu.au.

PMID: 37028836
DOI: 10.1016/j.rdc.2023.01.006

Abstract

The upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract is frequently involved in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and may impact quality of life, physical function and survival. Although we are currently very proactive in terms of screening for heart and lung involvement, patients with SSc are not routinely screened for GI involvement. This review details the available investigations for common upper GI symptoms in SSc, including dysphagia, reflux and bloating and provides advice as to how to integrate these investigations into current clinical care.

Keywords: Dysphagia; Reflux; Systemic sclerosis; Upper gastrointestinal tract.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Gastrointestinal Diseases* / diagnosis
Gastrointestinal Diseases* / etiology
Gastrointestinal Diseases* / therapy
Gastrointestinal Tract
Humans
Quality of Life
Rheumatologists
Scleroderma, Systemic* / complications
Upper Gastrointestinal Tract*

Grants and funding

K23 AR071473/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States