Hydroxyproline in the oesophageal mucosa of patients with progressive systemic sclerosis during omeprazole-induced healing of reflux oesophagitis.

Hydroxyproline concentration in oesophageal mucosal biopsies was used as an index of collagen in an attempt to evaluate the potential for stricture formation in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis. Eight patients suffering from progressive systemic sclerosis with complicating gastro-oesophageal reflux, 8 patients with idiopathic gastro-oesophageal reflux, and 7 normal controls were compared. Acid gastro-oesophageal reflux was assessed with 24-h pH-metry; degree of oesophagitis was evaluated both endoscopically and histopathologically. The patients with progressive systemic sclerosis were investigated at the start of the study and later when healing of oesophagitis was accomplished with omeprazole therapy. The hydroxyproline concentration was significantly increased (P less than 0.01) in the oesophageal mucosa from patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (median 21.8 nmol/mg) as compared to patients with idiopathic gastro-oesophageal reflux (median 6.4 nmol/mg) and normal controls (median 8.1 nmol/mg). Hydroxyproline concentration in oesophageal mucosa from patients with progressive systemic sclerosis decreased significantly and to a normal level (median 6.5 nmol/pg; P = 0.014) when healing of oesophagitis was achieved.